Bring What You Can, and Take What You Need! Vigo County and Clay County Blessing Boxes
Terre Haute resident Monica McDonald always saw people walking up and down her street, and she had a feeling that maybe they could use some help. That’s when she came up with the idea to start a Blessing Box along the roadside. What is a Blessing Box? A Blessing Box is typically an enclosed cabinet that stores non-perishable food or hygiene items where people can take what they need and donate what they don’t need.
After running out of space in the original Blessing Box, the McDonald’s expanded to include a hygiene box, a Little Library, and even a fresh produce stand in the summer. Now she has nearby family helping her to stock the boxes everyday and even complete strangers offering help on the Facebook page she created for the Blessing Box. Her family says that hearing from the people that the boxes help is the most fulfilling part of having the Blessing Boxes. They make it all worth it.
One church saw a need for help and filled it without knowing how quickly it would take off in Clay and Vigo counties. Leigh Pritchard of Grace Chapel in Brazil saw a Blessing Box on Pinterest and brought the idea to her pastor. Leigh’s husband Joe constructed the first Blessing Box, and they placed it in front of Grace Chapel. Now the ministry has made nine Blessing Boxes, each with a sponsor that works to keep it maintained and filled! More to come soon!
Many of us go to bed at night with full bellies, but the reality for many in the Wabash Valley is that there isn’t enough money to cover necessities like food and hygiene products. The Blessing Boxes that continue to pop up around our community are truly a blessing to many in need, without the shame that sometimes comes with needing and asking for help.
Vigo County and Clay County Blessing Boxes
If you find yourself or someone you know in need of items from a Blessing Box, or would like to donate items to put in a box, here are some locations around the Wabash Valley where you can find one:
Terre Haute Blessing Box Locations:
The McDonald Blessing Boxes – 5448 N. Clinton Street Terre Haute, IN (If you want to donate, please leave items on their porch) & Carmichael Exhaust – 1936 N. 3rd Street Terre Haute, IN
Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin Blessing Box – NE Corner of Walnut Street and Harding Avenue Terre Haute, IN
Free Life Community Church Box – 20th and Hulman Terre Haute, IN
Clay County Blessing Box Locations:
Aerial Arts Fireworks – 640 W National Ave Brazil, IN
Berea Christian Church – 1995 W CR 800 N Brazil, IN
First Christian Church – 1875 US 40 Brazil, IN
First United Methodist Church – 201 N Meridian St. Brazil, IN
Grace Chapel – 2104 US 40 Brazil, IN
McKinley Hill Church – 10700 N County Rd 300 E Brazil, IN
The Rock – 500 E. 10th St. Clay City, IN
Serving on the Streets – 100 N Forest Ave. Brazil, IN
St. Vincent Clay Hospital – 1206 E. National Ave. Brazil, IN
Author bio: Emily Murray is a native Hoosier and has been a Hautian implant since coming to ISU for college in 2003. She has a five year old daughter, and four amazing bonus kids whose lives she is lucky enough to partake in with her significant other Christopher. Emily works in the nonprofit world and dabbles in photography, dog cuddling, running and eating (lots of eating).
