Blessing For People Who Need Food In Dekalb

A Smithville woman saw a need in the community to provide free donated food for those in need.

So she decided to install a blessing box.

A blessing box is a safe container where community members can leave non-perishable food and other necessities. Kristi Longmire said the box gives people a chance to pick up food items discreetly.

“It’s been going great so far,” Longmire said. “It’s showing people that they care and helping in different ways while remaining private at the same time. Especially now when we’re going through the stay at home order and some people are not working or barely working to make ends meet. It’s just a way to help.”

After finding a volunteer to build and donate the blessing box, Longmire consulted with the city mayor to find it a home.

The box is located at the county complex. Longmire said community members volunteer to check on donation supplies routinely.

“The couple that actually made the box and donated to us, Valerie and Wesley Slager, they live in Alexandria, TN, which is still apart of Dekalb County. They are building another box and they would like to donate it and put it in another part where they live. So hopefully we will have at least one or two more boxes across the county,” Longmire said.

Longmire said anyone is free to donate items if supplies begin to run low.