Watertown church has state’s first Blessing Box
Above is the motto for the Blessing Box, a small public pantry in downtown Watertown where food is available for anyone who needs it, and a place for people to donate food items for others.
The Blessing Box is a national trend that became popular through Facebook. The first registered Blessing Box in South Dakota is located at Watertown’s Trinity Episcopal Church on the corner of Kemp Avenue and Second Street SE.
The pantries are similar to Little Libraries – where anyone can take or leave a book – which have popped up in Watertown neighborhoods and across the country.
Julie Gonsor, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, saw a Facebook post a couple of years ago and decided it would have a good use here.
Once the group was able to open the lock on the display case outside the church door, volunteers in the congregation could bring nonperishables and put them in the case. The Blessing Box has been open for about two months.
Diane Kirchmeier said the box took a while to get a good start, but once people began noticing it, there has been lots of use.
“It sounds that that’s always the way it is: It starts really slow, but once it catches on and people understand and the community gets involved, then it just kind of takes care of itself,” Gonsor said.
Food isn’t the only thing that can be found in the Blessing Box. Prayers are printed out and left for people to take when they need them, plus diapers, toilet paper and other paper goods, school supplies, hats, mittens and many more items can be left for someone who needs them.
What stocks the box will vary by season and demand, Gloria Schultz said. Cans have the potential to freeze in the colder months, so pouches of soup may be the main staple.
“We have noticed for example that this time of the year people aren’t taking soup, which makes sense. Nobody wants soup in the summer,” said The Rev. Portia Corbin. “But in the winter people might really want soup, so some of what we put out and what attracts people might change.”
Corbin also noted that people don’t need to bring a lot in order to help. Taking a few extra rolls of toilet paper out of the package or bringing in an extra box of macaroni and cheese bought on-sale is enough for the Blessing Box.
The church members said they have noticed many people have been using the box now that word is getting out about it, and they look forward to continuing to provide in order for others to take what they need; give what they can, and above all, be blessed.
