With over 40 philanthropic organizations in Boca Raton, it’s not difficult to find volunteer opportunities to give back to our community. From organizations that collect donations, provide meals, raise awareness for cancer and other diseases, support veterans, and help animals, local charities provide ample opportunities to aid those less fortunate. While the focus of each nonprofit may differ, these organizations all have one commonality: to improve the lives of those in need for a better, brighter, and kinder future. Through action, compassion, and raising awareness, several local leaders interviewed by The Torch shared how their charities benefit not only our community but also the world. 

Laura Reiss, founder of Kindness Matters 365, began the foundation in 2008 at Sunrise Park Elementary School, emphasizing that small, compassionate actions are crucial for individual well-being, stronger communities, and a more peaceful world. Though it began at one elementary school in Boca Raton, the movement now reaches three countries: The United States, Dominican Republic, and Cameroon. Soon Kindness Matters is expanding to Costa Rica. Reiss has a big vision for the future of Kindness Matters. “My commitment is that all humans everywhere understand their value – and everybody else’s value – and act accordingly,” shared Reiss. She further explained that in our precious time in this world, she hopes everyone can take the time to understand how to respect each other and how to powerfully navigate this world.  Global kindness is an initiative that can pave this path, which supports the mission of Kindness Matters. 

Meals with Meaning, a charitable initiative in providing nutritious meals, delivers recipe-based meal kits to individuals experiencing food insecurity. The organization started in 2018 by Gena Vallee and her wife Rose. Meals with Meaning offers a food pantry from 10:00 am- 12:00 pm on weekdays, including non-perishable items, hygiene products, water, and desserts. They also provide a Sunday Meal from 2:00 – 3:00 pm at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church.  With their fantastic team of volunteers, their goal is committed to helping others. They are always looking for anyone with servant hands and hearts to help those in need.  This mission welcomes volunteers of all ages and from all faiths, whether it’s to help prepare food in the kitchen or to distribute meals. 

Tzedakah, Learning & Chesed (TLC), a volunteer-based program focused on social action, hunger relief, homelessness, and community support, is located at B’nai Torah in Boca Raton. The vision for TLC began in 2012 with the goal of becoming the driving volunteer force in the community. Founder Summer Faerman shared that the true reason behind creating the program was a deep belief in the power of giving back and inspiring others to do the same. Living by the mantra “you can’t move forward if you don’t give back,” TLC encourages individuals to serve their community with purpose, compassion, and commitment. Faerman is a miracle worker who volunteers for over a dozen local charities and strives to make dreams come true for everyone she encounters.  

The Grey Team is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by Cary Reichbach. The Grey Team’s mission is to support active-duty U.S. soldiers and military veterans by implementing solutions to reduce and eliminate PTSD-related suicides. What began as a response to the growing military veteran suicide epidemic has grown into a life-saving initiative. As the organization approaches its 10-year anniversary, Reichbach reflected on the impact they’ve made. “The Grey Team has served over 1,200 service members and has never experienced a single suicide among those [we’ve] supported,” Reichbach shared. This is especially significant given that the national rate of military suicide currently averages between 40 and 44 per day in the United States.

Whether you’re a high schooler in need of 20 hours of community service to graduate or an adult looking for meaningful volunteer work, it’s easy to find an organization that is close to your heart to directly impact our community. Even though each organization focuses on different causes, they all support our community and beyond. These local leaders encourage citizens to donate and volunteer and contribute to help and spread awareness of great causes. After all, one small act can have a big impact.