Community encouraged to donate

Because many people face the additional burden of heating their homes during the winter months, it is especially important that community members donate items to area food sharing boxes to help those in need.

There are several boxes located in the area, including a Blessing Box that was put in place by Girl Scouts from Birdsboro Troop 1080, who installed the box as part of their Bronze Award Project in May of 2023. The food sharing box is located next to the borough police station at the corner of Cinder and Mill streets in Birdsboro.

Korinne Blackwell, one the troop leaders, suggested the following items for placement in the box: dried goods, such as pasta, rice, oatmeal and cereal; canned meats, beans and vegetables; and peanut butter. "(People may) donate pretty much anything that is shelf stable," said Blackwell. "Our community does a great job donating."

It recommended that people also donate canned goods with pull tabs since members of the homeless community who visit the box may not have access to a can opener. Items in glass containers are also not recommended since they can burst in cold temperatures.

Among those who have placed items in the Birdsboro Blessing Box is local resident JenNae Grant. "I donate because as a community, we need to look out for one another. What we may have in our homes, so many others don't, and I think that's taken for granted," she said. "God has blessed my family with a home and food on our table, and not everybody has that luxury. And the feeling of knowing that somebody will have a full belly brings me peace."

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 548 Old Swede Road, Douglassville, also has its own food pantry box. It is located just outside the main entrance of the church and can be accessed anytime. Residents in need of food assistance can stop and take what they need. For more information, contact the church office at 610-385-6616.

Another community food box has been set up at the West Nantmeal Township Recreation Area, located next to the township building at 455 N. Manor Road (Route 82), Elverson. The box is situated next to the site's Little Free Library.

The food box was provided by It Takes a Village, a nonprofit organization that has established food boxes, also called Blessing Boxes, throughout Chester County and one in Berks County. Each box is marked with the motto, "Take only what you need. Leave behind what you can."

The community food box at the township building is the fourth box that has been put into place by Nathan Lutz, a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The first box was installed by Lutz at the church, located at 1040 Chestnut Tree Road, Honey Brook. The other food box locations are the Village Library, 207 N. Walnut St., Morgantown, and the Hearts in Hands Community Center, located in the Indian Run mobile home park at 1 Lenape Way, Honey Brook.

According to http://www.ittakesavillagecc.org/food-boxes.html, the food boxes are a great resource for the homeless, people who have experienced hard times and hungry school students. The boxes, which operate on an honor system, are unlocked and can be accessed by anyone 24 hours a day.