Verona Blessing Box

Trinity Lutheran Church, Verona

At the onset of the pandemic and statewide restrictions and closures in March 2020, an immediate concern of members of our congregation was the continued support of the Blessing Box. Our Blessing Box is a glass window that was built into the front wall of the church, facing the busy main street of the town of Verona. It is never locked, and can be accessed by simply pulling open the door, and taking items from one of the three shelves. The main supply has come from regular church members, who typically bring items with them on Sunday mornings. However, the visibility of the window on the main street has attracted the attention of the community, and it is not unusual to see community members who are not members of the church dropping by to leave a bag of groceries inside. We also occasionally receive donations from other food banks and nearby ministries when they experience a surplus.

When church services had to be suspended in March, a few members of the church volunteered to shop for items for the Blessing Box, to keep it regularly stocked. Some members made specific donations to the church to be used for this purpose; some non-members, when they heard about the Blessing Box and those shopping for it, made donations as well. One member heard of a local retail food distribution company, seeking customers now that they were losing the business of restaurants, that was selling boxes of produce and breads; the company sold boxes at a discount to the church, and for a time throughout the spring and summer we were able to fill the Box with fresh fruits and vegetables, along with breads and muffins - a change in what was usually the staple dry goods and canned items. The money received from the grant and from congregation member donations provided reimbursements to the members who were shopping for and transporting goods.

Over the last few months, the Box has never been empty, and we have also been able to purchase, or have received donations, of clothing items, face masks, toiletries, toilet paper, diapers and other baby items. The Box is regularly used; there are many times when it is filled, and completely empty by the next morning (especially when those fruits and vegetables are made available!). Sometimes, people fill a bag. Sometimes, they pull one or two items out, like a banana and a cereal bar. It is not uncommon to see teenagers stop by, just looking for a snack. Some folks who stop by are “regulars,” those who live nearby and use the box often, while others seem to be just passing through. Anytime the recipients see church members, they express their gratitude for this service being provided.

The Blessing Box has solidified Trinity Lutheran’s place in this community, as a source of food, security, and hope for our neighbors - an extension of Christ’s love. We are simultaneously lending a helping hand to those in need and engaging those who have more than they need to give of themselves and their possessions, whether or not they are official Church members. Our doors may be closed, but our window is open. Outside the confines of the church walls, we are simply God’s people, doing His work with our hands - which is what Church actually is.