BATTLEFORD — Inspired by Natalya Shevchuk in 2017, an initiative known as the Blessing Box, began in the City of North Battleford.
Paige Hundt, a 25-year-old resident of Battleford knew that this was something she wanted to see happen in her community.
“As a result of vandalism this Blessing Box was taken down several years after it was put up in North Battleford,” Hundt said.
“I was someone who donated to this cause regularly and saw how many people utilized the service. When it was taken down, it left me thinking about how many people could not access those items anymore.”
That realization led Hundt to engage her community to help construct a Blessing Box in Battleford. However, Hundt was quick to acknowledge that this project would not have been made possible without the help of many others.
“The Blessing Box is an accessible space where people can drop off their gently used items that they no longer use for someone else to take home,” explains.
“I like to describe this as, ‘Take what you need, leave what you can.’ It is unlocked, confidential, and accessible to everyone to ensure that people have easy access to the donation items within the box.”
Donations can include non-perishable food items, clothes, personal care items, housewares, school supplies and so on. Hundt says she hopes the Blessing Box will be a fixture in her community for a long time and serve as a constant reminder for people to help others when they can.
“The council of the Town of Battleford approved my request to place the box near the seniors’ fitness park at the Alex Dillabough Centre. The Rotary Club of the Battlefords paid for the construction of the box itself which was built by Fusion West Manufacturing. The Battlefords Art Club painted the box. Twin River Concrete donated the cement and Kings Concrete poured the concrete pad that the box sits upon,” adds Hundt.
The Battleford resident says several other people provided donations for the remaining costs of the project, and while Hundt orchestrated the project, she says it was a true community effort.
“The Blessing Box in Battleford is a great idea and well-executed plan by Paige,” Jason Russell, president of the Rotary Club of the Battlefords, acknowledges. “She is the type of person every community in our country needs."
Russell says the Rotary Club was honoured to be asked to participate in the idea and jumped at the opportunity to do so.
“We enjoy helping our community in any way shape or form. Rotary is and always will be active in our community. We look forward to many more projects. I hope that people will be able to find what they need and drop off a little extra for someone else if they are able,” he says.
“The Blessing Box is a project rooted in kindness, helping others, and building better communities. The people who helped make this possible truly exemplify those values."
The unveiling of this kindness project took place on Sept. 27 . City of North Battleford councillors Bill Ironstand and Kelli Hawtin attended along with Annette Janguala from the Rotary Club of the Battlefords, Doug Laing, Town of Battleford councillor, Jason Russell, representing the Rotary Club of the Battlefords and Fusion West Manufacturing, Pam Beaver, Battlefords Art Club, Jeremy Cockrill, Battlefords MLA, Carol Volk and Treena Knelson from the Battlefords Art Club along with Mayor Ames Leslie of Battleford.
Hundt was joined by several family members and others for the unveiling.
“It was really so many other incredible community members who made the Blessing Box a reality,” Hundt says.
