By Stephen Smoot
Last winter the story spread like wildfire on social media. An unidentified young girl in Brandywine came up to stores, looking for help and saying she had nothing to eat. The story pulled on the heartstrings of the county, but also started the Blessing Box movement in Pendleton County.
Shannon Shockey Adkins related that she, like others, had worried about the girl and her family. In discussions with her own family, her daughter, Kyra Walls, offered that Pocahontas County residents had put together “blessing boxes.”
These structures do not take up much room, but can hold a considerable amount. Adkins shared this with Kevin Rawson, who replied, “Hey, I could help with that!”
Quickly, Rawson connected with Kyle Williams and the pair constructed three boxes, placing them at the Roadside Park in Brandywine, outside the Sugar Grove Rescue Squad building, and in Fort Seybert.
Since then, others have taken the initiative to build and locate boxes in other places such as the North Fork Baptist Church and the community building in Franklin.
“It’s not been that long” since they were put up, said Adkins. “By April, we had three boxes full of food.”
The boxes can hold non perishable food and common household necessities, such as toilet paper and toothpaste. Adkins shared that “it’s been the whole community” that has come together and made the project a success.
Rawson explained that “there were more families in Brandywine that needed help than we knew. One local church was helping 20 families.”
Anyone can place a donation and anyone in need can access the unlocked boxes, latched shut to keep animals out. Adkins stated that almost since the beginning, the original group that placed them has not had to fill them. Donations show up regularly to keep stocks full.
“It’s obvious that the community is doing this,” said Katrina Bolton, who added that “I didn’t think it would take off like this.”
Should the boxes empty, however, Adkins said, “If it’s empty, contact us and we’ll fill it.” She added that if people wish to donate or to receive help “we prefer to not know any names.”
Organizers took the hesitance of some to ask for help in mind when placing the boxes. Melinda Shockey stated that “we put them in secluded areas.” The boxes are located in such a way as that people can approach anonymously whether giving or filling family needs.
As for the purpose, it lies both in helping people and also recognizing how the love of God can work through people’s hands. As Adkins shared, “Christ calls us to show His love to everybody.”
“This is just one way that we are able to do that.”
