Holy Family Parish in Blakely, Georgia, recently installed a blessing box in front of the church. Parishioners and children from the religious education class donate items that are now available to take for anyone in need. Items include nonperishable food and household supplies like toilet paper and soap.

What started as a project for the local chapter of the American Heritage Girls quickly grew into a parish initiative. Parishioners, along with Father Neil Pezzulo, Brother Jude Smith, and Sister Imelda Ngwitu regularly fill the box with much needed items. Toiletries are the most sought after items and tend to move fast. It can be difficult to keep the blessing box stocked, Father Neil explains.

“We opened the blessing box because there was a need in the community. It’s a simple way to help people without them having to knock on the door and ask,” says Father Neil. “The ultimate goal was to give people more dignity when asking for help.”