Effective ministry begins with noticing. Epworth United Methodist Church in Bethlehem noticed that there were some in their neighborhood that struggled with food insecurity. They decided to take action by building a Blessing Box.

A Dewees Grant from EPA provided funds for the project. During their summer Mission Blitz week, members of Epworth purchased building supplies and materials and built the blessing box. The youth group got involved—they designed and painted a mural on the back of the structure. Together, the church installed the box near the church’s playground and parking lot where it is easily viewed from the road.

They see daily blessings that are shared by both their neighbors and their community. Epworth UMC advertised their blessing box on a local Facebook Blessing Box Group. New visitors come to the box to get what they need and new community friends have arrived to help keep the box stocked.

Epworth UMC works hard to make sure that popular items remain in stock. Items such as cereal, canned ravioli, soup, rice and pasta packets are popular. Personal care items and laundry detergent are also stocked.

Epworth is a small church with a “Mission Heart”.  The Blessing Box is just one small way they choose to follow Jesus and share God’s Love. As they work to bless others they find that they themselves are blessed. As they reach out in love to their neighbors, they lean on the words of Romans 8:28 “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him”