These elementary students can teach you about solving hunger

Strategically positioned on the lawn of three West Clermont School District elementary schools are new structures that make a tremendous difference in the life of a hungry child or adult.

Known by some as "blessing boxes," each is stocked with a selection of non-perishable and personal care products.

The blessing boxes work much like the coins found on the counter top of many local carry-outs — take if you need, give if you can.

This project, like others designed to feed hungry families in West Clermont Schools and surrounding areas in Clermont County, is powered by Cincy Kids 4 Kids and its co-founder, Missy Bastin. She found the idea for the boxes on Facebook as she searched for additional ways to help food-insecure families.

Cincy Kids 4 Kids, in partnership with the Freestore Foodbank, and student and community volunteers introduced in 2015 a program to help provide food to needy West Clermont families over holiday breaks and the summer months. The program is currently responsible for providing food to about 50 area families monthly.

Charity co-founder hopes to continue food program

“Then I started thinking, 'This is great, we’re doing this when we can.' What about during the weekends or when we’re out of school, those weeks in between when they don’t have a meal and need something?” Bastin said. “We need something they can access anytime, not just when we have the ability.”

The blessing boxes fit the need, she said. For this project, Cincy Kids 4 Kids is partnering with schools, student groups and community members. The first few boxes were constructed by Ed Tappe. Cincy Kids 4 Kids provided the materials and Tappe gave his time and craftsmanship.

Willowville Elementary received the first box in January. In March, boxes were installed at Clough Pike, Holly Hill, and Withamsville-Tobasco elementary schools. Two more boxes are in the planning stages. Student groups at each school are responsible for the boxes.

At Clough Pike, the blessing box is known as the Sharing Shack and is the responsibility of students in the school’s Kids Care Club. The club has a budget provided by the PTO. That money was used to fill the box. Donations of food and money are now being received to keep the box stocked.

“It’s a great opportunity to have people trust you and you to trust them,” fifth-grader Bri Miller said.

The students initially expressed trust issues regarding the box, said teacher and Kids Care Club Advisor Beth Testa. They were concerned someone might remove all of its contents and people who need the food might not get it. After talking through the “what if” issue, the students were eager to trust people would take what they need and donors would give what they could, she said.

With the number of students on free and reduced lunch continuing to rise, the box is needed, Testa said.

“Nowadays there are so many kids who come to school and they don’t have dinner the night before,” she said. The box is nice because people can access it discretely anytime to fill a food need, Testa added.

Data shows poverty is on the rise in suburban areas, according to a recent report by The Enquirer, which looked at data from school lunch programs including West Clermont.

'This is a crisis': Suburban poverty growing, school lunch data shows

After just one week, Testa said people are giving to and taking from the Sharing Shack.

Lularoe Leggings consultant Amy Fogelman is finding ways to support the boxes through her business. Her children attend St. Bernadette in Amelia, but she knows that there are students at Holly Hill who come from homes where the parents can’t afford to send their child to school with a snack, she said. The teachers try to provide for these students. Now children and their parents can select a snack from the box.

“I think of my kids. They can have a snack when they want it. My family is already blessed,” Fogelman said. “If this can just add a touch to another family’s life, that’s worth it.”

The boxes are open for all members of the community, not just students, Bastin said. Another box she hopes to see installed soon is one at the First Presbyterian Church of Batavia.

Bastin is hopeful the blessing box idea expands to all West Clermont elementary schools and is one that catches on in the community.

There are rules about what can and cannot be placed in the blessing boxes, she said. They are clearly posted on each box. For example, glass items are not permitted. Canned and boxed foods like fruits, vegetables, meats, ravioli, chili, stew and soup are encouraged. Personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and toilet paper are also accepted.