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Waynesboro school's Blessing Boxes provide food to those in need

John Irwin, Waynesboro Record Herald
·2 min read

A Waynesboro elementary school is making an impact in the community by helping tackle food insecurity.

Mowrey Elementary, located at 7891 Tomstown Road, has set up three locations where individuals can pick up food called Blessing Boxes in early February.

Mowrey Elementary School is helping to bridge the gap in food insecurity in the area.
Mowrey Elementary School is helping to bridge the gap in food insecurity in the area.

“We identified food insecurities as an area where we wanted to make a difference and also make it accessible to anyone at anytime,” Mowreys’ guidance counselor Marci Pyles said.

Lowe's of Waynesboro donated the materials to construct the boxes and Pyles and her husband, Jason, built them.

The Blessing Boxes are supplied with a variety of goods ranging from canned vegetables to dry goods.
The Blessing Boxes are supplied with a variety of goods ranging from canned vegetables to dry goods.

According to Pyles, the boxes are kept stocked by the school and also by those in the community who feel led to donate.

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“It’s a take what you need, leave what you can concept,” Pyles said. “We go to check the boxes about every other week to make sure they are kept stocked with items.“

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Blessing Boxes are set up at Blue Rock Church, located at 7885 Mentzer Gap Road in Waynesboro, South Mountain Bible Church located at 11275 S. Mountain Road in Fayetteville, and the Mont Alto Borough building.

To initially stock the three locations a collection was held at Mowrey where staff and students brought in non-perishable items.

“Our families always rally when there is a cause,” said Principal Emily Goodine. “They are very good at giving where they can and how they can.”

Pictured here is the blessing box at the Mont Alto Borough building.
Pictured here is the blessing box at the Mont Alto Borough building.

The effort is led by a staff organization, the Community Keepers, as part of an outreach into the community.

“It’s one of the projects that we set as a goal. We also are working with Penn State Mont Alto on a tutoring program for our students,” Pyles said. “We really are tying to bridge the gap between the community and the school.”

To get the students engaged in the project they help sort food items when they come in.

“Our plan is to keep the collection on-going,” Pyles said. “They have been out for a month, and we would love to keep that going.”

For more information on the project, Mowrey Elementary can be reached at 717- 762-1191.

This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: Waynesboro school helps tackle food insecurity with blessing boxes