500 enjoy Christmas feast at Town Center at Boca Raton

Hannah Phillips, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read
1
A child holds a gift at Sunday's Christmas Feast, hosted by Boca Helping Hands and The Town Center of Boca Raton.
A child holds a gift at Sunday's Christmas Feast, hosted by Boca Helping Hands and The Town Center of Boca Raton.

BOCA RATON — An elf on stilts lumbered through the food court as children darted out of its way, eager and wide-eyed in a sea of red: red tablecloths and Santa hats and flower arrangements in a mall made festive for Christmas.

Town Center at Boca Raton closed its doors Sunday to host 500 people in the food court at its seventh annual Christmas Feast. One hundred volunteers recruited by the shopping center and its nonprofit partner, Boca Helping Hands, waited on attendees hand and foot. Together, they brought a holiday meal to underserved families across the community.

Scrooge, beware: The jolliest of holiday homes leaves not even an inch for humbug

A mountain of toys — Legos, bikes, easels, dolls, toy trucks and more — awaited each child. Volunteer elves moved back and forth from the hidden stash to the booths, handing out gifts while a magician stepped around them, a disappearing flower in the palm of his hand.

Santa Claus, of course, was the real star. He visited children and posed for photos while servers replaced their empty plates with more food: turkey, beef stew, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and lasagna, all donated by local restaurants. S'mores and hot chocolate stations were also nearby.

Children pose with Santa Claus at Boca Helping Hands and the Town Center of Boca Raton's annual Christmas Feast on Sunday.
Children pose with Santa Claus at Boca Helping Hands and the Town Center of Boca Raton's annual Christmas Feast on Sunday.

Sal Saldaña, general manager of Town Center at Boca Raton, stood back and watched the feast unfold Sunday afternoon. It reminded him of the night he and a handful of Boca Raton well-to-dos occupied a private room at The Capital Grille seven years ago, a spread of good food before them. Wouldn't it be nice, Saldaña thought, if everyone could experience a meal like that, unencumbered by cost?

The result was louder, grander and more joyful than Saldaña imagined. He and organizers with Boca Helping Hands, a nonprofit that connects people in need with food and financial help, have hosted the Christmas Feast each year since then, roping in local leaders to help.

"I'm watching (state) Senator Tina Polsky literally handing lasagna to people at the table," Saldaña said. He laughed. "She's wearing a nice Santa hat."

Joy in store: Joy in store: 300-plus kids go shopping with West Palm police for holiday gifts

Children pose with an elf at Boca Helping Hands and the Town Center at Boca Raton's annual Christmas Feast on Sunday.
Children pose with an elf at Boca Helping Hands and the Town Center at Boca Raton's annual Christmas Feast on Sunday.

Boca Raton City Council member Yvette Drucker also volunteered. The invite-only event lasted from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, and served families from across Palm Beach County. Nonprofits including 4KIDS of South Florida, Boys & Girls Club of Boca Raton, City House Delray and countless others helped staff the event and send out the invites.

The experience, Saldaña said, is first-class and five-star.

"If you look at the eyes and the joy that we bring to these people — they may be struggling and thinking: 'What am I going to be able to give my kid for Christmas?'" he said. "They don't have to worry about that here."

Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Needy families get food and gifts thanks to Boca mall and nonprofit