BRYAN, Texas — Blessing Boxes are one way to help the community in need, and a Bryan woman is creating these boxes to bless her neighbors now.
The boxes are micro-pantries that include non-perishable food items, toiletries, and encouragement cards.
People can adopt the boxes and maintain them in their community to help others in need.
“If there was more blessing boxes that were small in lots of places that would make a bigger impact than just putting a big blessing box somewhere,” said Dr. Heidi Campbell, makes Blessing Boxes.
“It’s a way to kind of help and give back and especially to your neighbors, just kind of saying 'Hey, I’m there,'" said Dr. Campbell. “It’s not just about giving food and toiletries away. We also give out encouragement cards.”
Campbell says it’s more than just providing nonperishable items.
“I was writing about 40 cards a month and we couldn’t keep them stocked,” said Dr. Campbell. “People not just need help and resources, they need positivity. They need hope and this is what these are all about.”
Campbell is a local community member in Bryan and a professor at Texas A&M University.
She upcycles materials from Facebook Marketplace and local thrift stores to make the blessing boxes.
One local business in Bryan found Campbell through a Facebook group.
“I found her on Facebook,” said Caroline Purser, office manager, Sonny Ellen Bail Bonds. “It was such a great thing. It’s so simple, something so small. She made it easy, too. She drops it off. She helps you fill it if you need. It’s an easy way to give back.”
Campbell says this is just one small way to make a big impact.
“Filling a bread box or a mailbox isn’t overwhelming, you know, keeping an eye on it,” said Campbell. “It’s like, ‘Hey, you can make a difference?’ and I will go the first step of kind of getting it to you. Then you just have to go the second step of keeping it going.”
Purser says with the bail bond office being located on a busy street, the box can not only be seen by many, but also help many.
“A lot of homeless people plus the Greyhound station,” said Purser. “People get dropped off over there sometimes two, three o’clock in the morning and the bus station is closed so they’re walking around. They don’t know where to go or anything and that box, if they walk by, it might make a big difference.”
If you are interested in adopting a Blessing Box, you can contact Dr. Campbell via email at: icreatekindness@gmail.com.
