Local businesses and organizations have begun putting boxes on their property with food and other supplies to help neighbors. The general rule is, “give what you can and take what you need.” The boxes are usually made of wood and they are posted in various areas around the county, in individual efforts to meet the community’s needs.
One local barber, The Shop at 115 N. East Street, has placed a large wood and glass cabinet out in front, and it’s stocked with soups, chips and more.
The Shop owner Shay Campbell states, “Being a Barber is far more than just cutting hair or just a job. A place where boys learn to be men. We want to continue these traditions and also help to give back to our community. So we have a new addition ‘The Blessing Box’ The idea is to take one if you need one and leave one if you can.”
There are other little pantry boxes outside in the downtown area at the Habitat ReStore at 112 S. Market Street, and Benton First United Methodist Church at the northwest corner of Market and Sevier Streets. See MySaline’s listing of all kinds of pantries in the county, at www.mysaline.com/food-pantries.
