A fire ripped through local nonprofit Boca Helping Hands, 138 NW 16th St., Aug. 24 destroying the phone system, job mentoring space and close to 20 computers. There are several bays at the location, and the main offices and job mentoring center were hit hardest, but the food center was not impacted.
“Linda [Gove] happened to go by around 7:30, and we are very fortunate that she did because it could have been catastrophic. That said, the facility did take a major hit just as things were really getting going,” said board president Gary Peters.
He said that 22 people had come in recently for job placement assistance and that the word was spreading.
“People knew where we were, who we were and momentum was really building. Those bays are not structurally sound, but thankfully the fire department got here very quickly and the roof did not collapse,” he said.
The nonprofit is reaching out to the community for assistance, and they need several items.
“We need a phone system that can take care of seven offices, furniture including desks and chairs for six offices and the reception area and also computers,” he said.
They have set up a temporary location to receive donations and to continue assisting residents at 127 NW 13th St., Suite 13.

To assist, call Gary or Anne at 561-994-7330.