A Thunder Bay woman never dreamed she’d be filling an outdoor pantry on her front lawn for the less fortunate as often as she does.
Danielle Ruel tells us filling her Bethune Street Blessing Box often has been a great community undertaking.
“I usually fill it twice a day. I don’t like to see it empty, so we’ll put some stuff in the morning, then in the evening. And then also, other people will fill it up.”
The local woman adds she sees people of all ages, including young families, in need of the items inside.
There’s also another local woman who sees a huge need in Thunder Bay for this idea.
Rebecca Britton tells us everyone from young families, to children walking around on their own, take from her Brodie Street Blessing Box, which is the first to be installed.
“They don’t have to be embarrassed. I’ve seen people walk by with no mittens on in November, and I’ll say “Please, just come to my box and grab a pair of mittens.”
The Brodie Street resident adds she contacted a local group called Giant Hearts for the Blessing Box about a year ago.
“I’m glad that children know that my box is here, so if they are hungry, they can just come to my box and grab Kraft Dinner, and go home and be able to cook it for themselves.”
About a year after installing this first box, Giant Hearts expects to have over a dozen across northwestern Ontario.
The boxes are filled with everything from perishable food, to bathroom items, clothes and other essentials.
