New Blessing Box opens at Poplar Springs UMC

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) - What may look like a small addition outside the church is meant to make a big impact giving neighbors a simple, accessible way to both give and receive.

“This is our neighborhood and we love our neighborhood and we want our neighbors who have a need to be able to with dignity, without asking or being seen, to come and get what they need, and our neighbors who have an abundance to simply drop off what they don’t need that others may need,” said Debbie Young, a church member at UMC.

Church leaders say the idea has been in the works for months, starting last fall after receiving a mission grant through the Mississippi Methodist Conference.

From there, organizers reached out to other churches with similar programs—learning what works and how to best serve their community.

With help from volunteers, the box was built and installed just weeks ago and is now ready for use.

“I think that we all sometimes worry that there’s not enough. There’s a lot of scarcity in our world, a lot of division, but this is a way for people to come together to share what they have,” said Rev. Emily Sanford, pastor at Poplar Springs UMC. “And I think that when we do that, we realize that through God and as we share that there really is enough and everyone can be fed—everyone can taste and see that God is good.”

The Blessing Box is open to anyone, at any time, creating an easy and accessible way for people to give and receive.

For those wanting to help, organizers say donations can be dropped off, stored inside during office hours, or given financially through the church.

Organizers say their goal now is to keep it going, hoping to grow support and continue meeting needs across the community.

The Blessing Box is located at 40th St. and Poplar Springs Drive in Meridian (39305).

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