Blessing Box: Addressing hunger in America

Take what you need, if you need, is the inspiration behind the “Blessing Box.” The idea is simple: people donate non-perishable, essential items, and place them inside the box so people in need can take what they need and leave what they can. Those who are creating and placing a Blessing Box in their neighborhoods, are examples of goodness in America.

But why do we need a Blessing Box if food banks and pantries exist? Accessibility, availability and privacy are three key reasons which make the Blessing Box attractive for a person in need.

Privacy:  Rare is the food bank which does not collect personal information on the individual who has stepped through their doors for the purposes of acquiring food or non-perishable. We in Washington state are blessed with the presence of Northwest Harvest, a nonprofit which asks nothing of the identity of the individual at their door. If you are at their door, you have a need, that is sufficient.

Accessibility:  Food banks, even those like Northwest Harvest operate on set hours, at a set location. The hours of operation often conflict with the work hours of the individual.

Availability:  Northwest Harvest has over 375 locations statewide in which food or meals are available to those in need. And while every effort is made to be in proximity to those they service, getting to the food bank requires travel of one sort or another.

The Blessing Box is a neighborhood, grassroots effort of neighbor helping neighbor. The recipient maintains their privacy, the food and other non-perishables are available on the recipient’s schedule and the location of the blessing box is in their neighborhood.

Won’t you consider establishing a Blessing Box for your neighbors? Here are a couple of examples, one from Texas and the other Kentucky.

Blessing Box in Texas:

Source: Inspiring America: ‘Blessing Boxes’ in Texas Town Helping Those in Need

Blessing Box in Kentucky