BUCYRUS―A new Blessing Box will soon be available for public use in Crawford County, providing non-perishable food items for those in need. The free-standing, rectangular wooden box will be located on Swigart Street beside the BORN center, allowing for easy access 24/7. The box will be built by the Eliminators Car Club and will contain canned goods with easy-open lids and other basic foods.
The need for the Blessing Box in the community is great, with organizations such as the Salvation Army, BORN, and the Bucyrus Backpack Program already providing food assistance. With continued raising of food prices, the need for assistance is expected to be even greater in 2023. The Blessing Box will provide an option for those who work long hours or need food after social service agencies are closed. It will also benefit youth who may not be receiving adequate food at home and individuals who do not get paid until later in the week.
The Blessing Box will be supported by churches, community groups, and civic organizations, who will be asked to sponsor the box for a one-month period. The sponsoring group will check on the box weekly during their selected month to see if it needs to be replenished. Donations for that month will be dropped off at the BORN center, and BORN will stock items as needed in the Blessing Box. BORN will keep a tracking log of how many items are distributed monthly and provide this information periodically to community stakeholders.
The target date for public use is April 28, 2023, and a blessing ceremony and ribbon cutting with the Chamber is planned for that day. The organizers of the Blessing Box project are praying that the community will support this project and help those in need.