Newly installed ‘Blessing Box’ allows residents to take what they need, leave what they can


Melinda “M.J.” Walrath stands next to the newly installed “blessing box” located under the covered awning of the former senior center on Third Street in Gainesville, now an outreach building for the Gainesville First Baptist Church.

The box is now stocked with items to give away.

Blessings come in all shapes and sizes, and thanks to an effort from several area residents, a new, bright purple “blessing box” is sure to help those in the community who need it. 

Blessing boxes are traditionally stocked with canned goods, beans, rice and other dry goods for those who need food or other items to retrieve at their convenience. Anyone is welcome to come to the box at any time and take items from the box that they need.  

Gainesville resident Missy Foster surprised her neighbor Melinda Walrath with the box last Thursday afternoon after the two women had discussed the project earlier this spring. 

“I just said I thought it’d be really nice to have one of those here, and I wondered how we could make that happen. Other than that, she did all the legwork,” Walrath said, referring to Foster. 

After speaking with Walrath, Foster went to the Mansfield Building Supply store in Gainesville to price the needed supplies, and while she was there the manager said he would donate some of the needed materials, including the hinges and plexiglass front.

Foster then spoke with another man, who asked to remain unnamed, to see if he could build the box. He said he wanted to help too and offered to build the structure, including providing the rest of the needed materials and painting it. 

Foster picked out the bright purple color, and Kristen McKee donated the turquoise lettering on the front that says ‘Melinda’s Blessing Box,’ in honor of Walrath’s initial idea. 

Foster then spoke with First Baptist Church pastor Mason Eslinger, who agreed to have the blessing box installed under the awning of their newly acquired building on Third Street that formerly housed the Ozark County Senior Center. 

“So it was my idea, but really it took a village to make it happen,” Walrath said, explaining that it was funny that Missy, Melinda and Mason are all neighbors who live on the same county road.

“It’s like the idea just caught fire and skipped down the road,” she said.  

Those who would like to contribute items to the blessing box can bring shelf-stable foods such as canned and dry goods such as soup, vegetables and pasta meals. Personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and feminine care items can also be left. 

Organizers ask residents to carefully check the dates on the food they’re donating to make sure canned goods or other items are not expired before leaving them at the box. Produce and refrigerated items are not accepted.

Walrath said it’s helpful for homeless or those without access to a kitchen if the canned goods have a “pop top” on them so the food can be opened without a can opener. Meanwhile, Foster and others are hoping to include inexpensive can openers inside the blessing box for users to take when needed. 

Ozark County Times

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