The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist on Railroad Ave. in Center Moriches is celebrating four years of having a Blessing Box serving the community.
The Blessing Box concept relies on the generosity of individuals to stock it with items. It's not just about providing food or necessities; it's about spreading a sense of community, compassion and kindness. The community members that need, take and the community members that can give, give. It’s the perfect circle of giving.
“The Blessing Box was given to our church by an organization called Neighbors Being Human. They had youth group builds and built five or six of the boxes. They had one left over and we were fortunate to be the recipient,” says Barbara Champ Member of St. John the Baptist and steward of their Blessing Box. “What you see in the box represents the total community effort and use.”
Neighbors Being Human is the community mission of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Yaphank, NY. Their goal is to provide support to those facing food insecurity and homelessness and to ultimately help lift people out of poverty.
The giving and the taking are all anonymous. There are no forms or any requirements to demonstrate income or need.
Champ said, “There are two other Blessing Boxes that I know of in our community - one at St John the Evangelist that is an Eagle Scout project, and one at Christ Lutheran Church. Both were built and installed in 2021.”
A blessing box is meant to hold non-perishable food and hygiene items. Champ cautioned about putting books in them. There are Little Libraries meant especially for books
“We have food pantry at our church on Tuesday nights. If I look at the box before the pantry opens to straighten it out and then look after, I see things are missing, things are added. So, people are using it even within that 90 minutes that our pantry is open,” Champ said.
Unfortunately, the Blessing Box has been vandalized twice, but both times good Samaritans stepped up to fix it and put it back in service.
Some of the best items to donate are cans with pop tops (for those living unsheltered), packets of tuna or chicken, canned proteins like chicken, tuna, spam, vienna sausages. Also canned veggies, pasta, rice, cereal, plastic (not glass) jars of pasta sauce, ketchup, mustard, etc.. Also toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoos , soap, etc.
What not to put in a blessing box?
- Perishable foods and fresh produce.
- Items packaged in glass.
- Damaged canned goods.
- Foods past the 'best by', 'use by', or 'sell by' date.
- Sharps (razors, needles, etc.)
- Chemicals (harsh or dangerous cleaners)
- Alcohol and age-restricted items.
- Used or previously opened items.