A Blessing Box is a small, often homemade box where people leave donated goods for others to pick up anonymously. Located in usually prominent areas, folks are filling them with items that will help those in need. There's everything from non-perishable food to toiletries There's no application, there's no forms, there's no red tape. If someone needs food for their family anytime they can go pick something out of the box, it's that simple.
They're like those "Little Free Libraries" that have been popular for a while, but instead of offering books, they contain things like food, soap, diapers, and other necessities.
People who have items to donate fill (and refill) the boxes; people who need those items take them. "Take what you need, give what you can, and above all be blessed!" is what you will read on many of the boxes.
The idea is thought to have originated with with Jessica McClard of Fayetteville, Arizona, who started her Little Free Pantry in March 2016. She got the idea from her neighborhood Little Free Library that she visited regularly. Today her Little Free Pantry website encourages others to set up their own Little Free Pantry with FAQs, legal advice, and even building plans for those who wish to build one themselves from scratch. To read more see:
https://www.littlefreepantry.org/
I first became aware of The Blessed to Blessings Boxes for Baldwin County several months ago and joined their public Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/357603761862127/
Since then there has been a lot of activity and there's almost 30 of these boxes in our county alone. According to the Blessing Box/Little Free Pantry Locator online there's over 7000 of these listed around the country today. I think that's awesome and I justed wanted to pass this info along so others, who are so inclined, might get involved.
Bottom line: Being involved is anything from dropping off something at your local box to building one of these near you. Either way, it's a blessing. read more