WINNSBORO – The Blessing Box, The Giving Box, The Little Pantry Box- the names change but the purpose is the same – give what you can and take what you need.
These little boxes are popping up at churches around Fairfield, stocked with non-perishable food items that are free for the taking. They are stocked by neighbors for neighbors.
One such little pantry is located behind First United Methodist Church in Winnsboro, at 109 W College Street. It is the church’s first pantry – a charming little box on a post – and it is full of non-perishable food items and love. It is stocked by neighbors who want to do good by their fellow men and women.
There are currently at least three little pantries in Winnsboro. Another is located at Church of the Nazarene at 650 Ninth Street. The third is at Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church at 502 Fifth Street. But the idea is catching on and more churches are planning to erect them.
The pantries are stocked by people for people.
The sign on the blessing box at First United Methodist Church notes: Take one or two items for your family. Leave the rest for others, a simple, “pass it on” message.
An article in Better Homes & Gardens Magazine written by Andrea Beck and updated in January 2021, suggested these little boxes as a natural, easy way to help neighbors in need. A jar of peanut butter, a can of beans, a bag of rice, or a jar of spaghetti sauce can be a meal where there wasn’t one.
To establish a little pantry box, www.littlefreepantry.org has directions for how to construct a box and supplies information about the process of establishing one for your area. Resources are also available on Facebook.
I wish the Churches would let the members know about these before we find out about it on Facebook . And events that are going to be happing in Winnsboro/Ridgeway and best of all Blythewood yard sales that the big church next to Wendy’s where they sale cookbooks ,good food ,music by the Sharpe’s . Until its over .