Blessing Boxes - All Are Welcome
Please help us build and stock Neighborhood Blessing Boxes throughout the Twin Cities area. Right now we have seven boxes built so far and placed throughout S Mpls. Two are in community gardens and the rest are on private residences properties.
We hope to continually expand our project. This truly has become a way of life for us.
For those who dont know me, allow me to introduce myself - My name is Bethany Nelson-Lieser. I live and work in the Whittier neighborhood and am very much in touch with the needs of our local community. I work for a treatment center, as a Program M anager with Hybrid Counseling and as a Behavioral/Chemical Health Recruiter for The Helpers, Inc. My husband and I also volunteer regularly to feed and clothe our working poor, as well as the homeless. Mainly with the Lyndale Association Community Dinners at Zion Church on Wednesday nights.
My husband Brian, is a chemical health assessor and full time college student. We are eyeballs deep in the recovery community!
Many working families have trouble getting to their neighborhood food shelves during open hours - which brings me to this wonderful community idea of the Blessings Box!
100% of the money raised will go towards non-perishable food items and building supplies (cedar wood (to best repell bugs and pests), plexiglass window to see inside, misc hardware, hook latch to secure door, weather and pest proofing materials, concrete to secure the post and paint and decorative supplies. Each box costs approx $300-500 each to initially build and initially place. Variables depend on box size.
WE FILL BOXES WEEKLY. This takes on-going funds. ♡♡
The sooner we raise the funds, the sooner we can get started building more boxes! My goal is to create a place where our working neighbors may go to find non-perishable foods and hygiene items in times of need, when they may be unable to get to their local food shelves.
Ideally, this pest-proof box will contain a variety of canned goods, cereals, instant meals, hygiene items - as well as culturally specific items, that are most often difficult to find in our local food banks.
As someone who works with the impoverished on a daily baisis, I see heart-breaking need and hope to allieviate some of the shame often felt by parents who are having trouble providing for their families' basic needs.
I am SO, SO very grateful for anything you may be able to contribute. This will be an on-going campaign and I personally will commit to long-term continued site maintenance and overall stocking.
Thank you SO MUCH for helping me feed local families in need!!
