CHICOPEE – One local resident and her family have started a blessing box in the Chicopee community. All over the country, blessing boxes are being created out of old bins, cabinets or even tables and stocked with supplies such as toiletries, non-perishables, hygiene products, books, cleaning supplies and school supplies. People were then able to come to the boxes and take what they needed.

The organizers of the box have chosen to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. The blessing box originated from a Christmas wish where the organizer decided she wanted to give instead of receiving any gifts. She and her husband dressed up as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus every weekend in December to provide school supplies, hats, gloves and more to kids in the area. After the holidays, they wanted to continue supporting the community in a way that was safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We tried to figure out what the safest way was to give back because it’s something that we all love to do in this household,” she said.

According to the organizer, she began to research ways to help and found that people all over the United States were putting together blessing boxes. The organizer repurposed an old cabinet and filled it with products to get the box started. After posting about it on Facebook, there was an overwhelming response from the community.

“It’s been kind of a nice flow of things coming and going. People are just so grateful. It’s become a whole community thing and every day I get tons of people asking to donate,” she said.

Since starting the box, three additional tables have been added to hold all of the supplies residents have been bringing. In addition to the blessing box, the organizer and her family also started a prayer box. Anyone can come and write a prayer request with the pen and sticky notes provided. Requests are taken out of the box each day and the organizer and her family pray for them. Hand sanitizer is also provided to keep everything safe and clean.

During COVID-19, the organizer said she knew the prayer box was needed.

“There are so many isolations and people feel lonely – that’s part of the prayer box. People need a prayer and they want to feel like they matter to someone,” she said.

At the site of the prayer and blessing box, the organizer and her family have also hung up a sign in wooden letters that reads, “You are worthy and loved.”

“One person might pass by that needed to hear that today and that’s there for them to see. What’s better to bring the community together than helping each other?” she said.

The blessing box is open seven days a week during daylight hours. The organizer sanitizes all supplies once in the morning, again in the afternoon and also at night before she closes everything up. According to the organizer, she plans to keep the blessing box out for as long as she can. During the summer, she hopes to provide fresh vegetables and also hopes to create a community garden in front of the box.

Anyone can come to the blessing box to grab supplies in an anonymous and safe way, she said.

“A lot of people, either maybe for pride or whatever reason, they don’t want to show their face. This way, you don’t feel like that. We supply bags, sanitizer, we supply everything. They just come, take what they need and keep it moving,” said the organizer.

The organizer and her family have been blown away by the community response and are glad they could help those in need during such hard times.

“The community involvement has been amazing. Every time I go outside to check and sanitize everything, you see new things come and new things go. There’s a lot of people who have stopped us to say thank you and how grateful they are, but it’s not us, it’s the whole community that’s helping. It’s bringing the community together,” she said.

The blessing box is located at 60 Wheatland Ave., near Chicopee High School. Those interested in learning more about the blessing box or seeing other community events hosted by the organizer are encouraged to visit the Mission:Worthy Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MissionWorthy-102648671196469.