BlessingsIn a box
In these tough times, a Balaton family has made an effort to ease the pain
When is a plastic bin more than a plastic bin? When it’s full of things that people in need can take to help them get through tough times. Then it becomes a “blessing box.”
And there is one such bin in front of the Jared and Jessica Hively home on 7th St. in Balaton.
“It’s got a little bit of everything,” Jessica said. “People have been picking things up. We put a few things in it, posted it online, and we’ve had three of four people drop off stuff.”
The idea is as simplistic as it is benevolent and is somewhat of a spin-off to what Victory Church in Balaton is doing on a larger scale with its every-other-week food distribution program.
“I had someone ask me informally, what if people can’t make it to that?’” Jessica said. “Or, what if they can’t get a ride to Marshall? Or if they need something in-between distributions at a food shelf? I figured, all we had to do was put out a box.”
Inside the box are things like nonperishable canned and boxed food items, and personal care and dental hygiene products.
Jessica said the government shutdown that put the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program pause was the final push she needed to start her “blessing box.” As a social worker with Southwest Health and Human Services in Marshall, Jessica knew first-hand there is a need out there.
“I have clients I serve that are not local to Balaton, but I know they are people who are going to be affected with SNAP ending or being delayed,” she said. “This is something easy where people can just drop off what they have in surplus and not have to worry about dropping something off during business hours, or going into a business.” One of the many positives of the “blessing box” is its anonymity — people in need can pick up some items without anyone knowing. For that matter, residents can drop things off as well without anyone knowing. “They can come anytime day or night and take what they need,” said Jessica. The family has replenished the box a few times, but other than that, there is no leg work for the Hivelys. Those who donate can place items in the box themseleves. “Sometimes there has been boxes dropped by the door, and sometimes they’ll just put things right in there,” Jessica said. “Whatever is easier for them. We wanted to make it easy for people to drop off or pick up. That’s how it should be.”
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I have clients I serve that are not local to Balaton, but I know they are people who are going to be affected with SNAP ending or being delayed. This is something easy where people can just drop off what they have in surplus …
— JESSICA HIVELY
