Middlesex Fire dept. encourages residents to use, donate to blessing box
MIDDLESEX TWP — A little more than a year after the Middlesex Township Volunteer Fire Company installed a “blessing box” to offer food and nonperishable goods outside the firehall, fire company members are encouraging residents to take advantage of the free resource.
The project, installed in March of 2021, was built with the help of Butler Boy Scout Troop 400 member Brady Zimmerman, who put together the box as an Eagle Scout project. The concept was dreamed up by Melissa Bitzer, a member of the fire company’s board of directors.
“About a year ago I said, times are really tough for a lot of people in our community, and what else can we do for them besides being part of the fire department?” Bitzer said. “We stock it, some of our members personally stock it.”
Located at 130 Browns Hill Road, the box includes food and hygiene products, and is maintained by a group of volunteers.
The fire company posted on Facebook over the weekend to remind residents about the resource. Bitzer said she wants to make sure the box isn’t forgotten about.
“I want people to take advantage of it, because I know there’s people going through some tough times,” Bitzer said. “With the pricing of food being so expensive, and some people (having) lost their jobs due to COVID reasons, we thought it would be something we wanted to post again, just to try and get some people to try and take advantage of it.”
Bitzer said that some community members come to use the box regularly, and that the fire department has built a relationship with residents, asking if there are specific things they need help with.
“I just feel like it could be used more,” she said. “Where we’re located, off of the main roads, not a lot of people really get to see it. We try to help out the community in any way that’s needed. That’s what we’re there for.”
For those interested in donating to the box, Bitzer said that nonperishable items are needed.
“Any type of canned goods, boxed goods, condiments,” she said. “We have some baby items in there right now, and we always put some baby food in there. Pretty much anything that’s nonperishable.”
