Market delivers 10,000 lunches and counting to essential workers

Joey Palermo, one of the Palermo brothers who own The Boys Farmers Market in Delray Beach, along with “Our Little Red Angel,” a tireless volunteer, deliver trays of lunches to front line workers in the community.

Since the pickup truck driven by Shae Lynn, a 19-year-old Delray Beach resident and volunteer, is red, she got the name “Our Little Red Angel.”

Since April 2, Lynn has been stopping by two floors of Delray Medical Center including the COVID-19 unit, Delray Beach Fire Station 115 and the Delray Beach post office delivering 100 lunches six days a week to front line workers.

“We wanted to do something to make a difference. We’re not doing it for any recognition but doing it from our inner workings. We jumped right in. We’re staying local. We’re locals helping locals,” Palermo said.

Additionally, Palermo’s brother, who runs Bambini’s Garden Pizzeria in Delray Beach, gives postal drivers on Tuesdays and Thursdays two slices of pizza and a drink.

When Palermo first saw the news months ago about the pandemic, he and his family knew they wanted to help in some way involving his five brothers and sister who are all part of the family business.

He then enlisted the help of Lynn, a family friend and neighbor, who volunteers to help load the 100 lunches, coordinate their distribution and deliver them.

“My dad works at the hospital so I know how hard it is. I wanted to help him help and everyone else. I hope I can be in his shoes one day and help give back like him. It’s a great feeling,” she said.

Palermo and his family also knew they didn’t want to make ordinary lunches.

“We wanted it to be a wow, not average. We wanted them to feel special,” he said.

They make homemade chicken cacciatore with salad, tuna salad and chicken salad wraps and penne ala vodka, to name a few

Dani Moschella, Delray Beach Fire Rescue spokeswoman, said the firefighters at Station 115, located right near The Boys market at 14378 S. Military Trail, are appreciative.

“When a local business steps up and makes a gesture like that, it makes the firefighters feel appreciated and acknowledged by the community they serve, and the fact people in the city realize what the firefighters are doing during this pandemic,” she said.

Palermo estimates they’ve served over 10,000 lunches since so far and there are no plans to stop any time soon, he said.

“The further we’re going, we’re trying to get more creative and come up with new dishes. We are in it for the long haul,” he said. “We do it from our hearts and know it means something. If we could do it, we’re there.”

Lynn said Palermo is like a father to her and everyone who works with him, as well as a hero to everyone.

“I can’t believe how amazing of a guy he is. He’s imposed so much wisdom to me throughout this experience,” she said.

Moschella and the firefighters at Station 115 have this message for Palermo and his crew at The Boys:

“We’d definitely like to say thank you. When they make a gesture like that it’s saying we appreciate you, we see you and that means so much to us. Thank you for making the effort to send that message.”