Salem Friends’ Church opens ‘blessing box’

SALEM - The missions committee at Salem Friends' Church hopes that their newest addition - a blessing box - will serve as a small way to show God's love to the people of Salem.

The makeshift food bank is a place for anyone to get nonperishable food or toiletry items, whether they can't make it to the grocery store for a few days or if they're pinching pennies that month. The blessing box is easily accessible, located outside on the north corner of Salem Friends' Church.

Missions committee member Chris Feehan said she believes the people of Salem will be generous to donate to the blessing box and that people who take will replace the items when they are able.

'Salem is a great place. I have no doubts that it will fill up soon, and there are already things in it,” Feehan said. 'Salem comes together when there's a need and I believe they will use it.”

The idea was brought to the Salem Friends' Church missions committee a few years ago when Feehan realized there were few services for people in Salem trying to get back on their feet.

Feehan said a woman living close to her at the time who was an alcoholic and drug addict was trying to put her life together after the Department of Human Services had removed her children from her home. The woman had no resources to do so, however, Feehan said.

'There were no jobs in Salem, her driving privileges had been revoked, she couldn't pay for a cellphone and there wasn't even a pay phone in town,” Feehan said.

There are always families in need, Feehan said. The blessing box is a small way to help people, like that woman, with a few easily accessible resources.

'I think sometimes people in the community find they are running short on something at home or need something or don't always have the money to stretch to the end of the month,” said Mindy McLeland, a missions committee member. 'Hopefully, when people take something out they will feel the need to put something in when they can.”