GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Near Glens Falls High School, a field stands on Sherman Avenue. Inside, guests will discover cans of soup, packs of tissues, and even some books – all to go to whoever wants them.
The Blessing Box at the Cavalry’s Family Life Center church has been in place since early September. It was put there by Navaeh Howe, a Lake George High School pupil who put the field collectively as a Silver Award Girl Scouts mission.
“I chose to do the Blessing Box to help the community, because the Silver Award is based on helping the community without getting money,” stated Howe. “I asked Hannaford and Home Depot and Lowe’s, and they donated all of the wood. I just thought of the idea to help the homeless and those in poverty.”
Howe cited analysis displaying that homelessness in the Glens Falls space has risen as a lot as 35% since the COVID-19 pandemic – making a useful resource for the unhoused an apparent selection. The Girl Scout has saved the field stocked with donations. On Tuesday night, she introduced new canned items and hygiene objects from Lake George that have been closing their doorways for the winter.
Cavalry was chosen as the field’s house resulting from its proximity to the faculty, WAIT House, and lots extra. Pastor Bill Harrington has seen loads of exercise in the weeks it is stood in place.
“There was one day it was full, and then the next day, half of the stuff was gone. By the next day, the box was completely empty,” Harrington stated. “People are definitely coming by and using it.”
Some objects might stick round for some time, however others go shortly. Packets of ramen are in style – Harrington guesses it is as a result of they solely want scorching water in order to cook dinner, and will be eaten even with out that. Canned items will be good, however do not assist if the individual in want does not have a can opener. Hygiene objects are in style, too.
Cavalry church runs a meals pantry that serves 11,000 households in a given 12 months – however even for them, the field is a boon. The pantry solely runs on Tuesdays, with leftovers handed out at the finish of the evening. The field is the place it’s 24/7. Harrington cited knowledge from his spouse, who works with the homeless, that there are at the least 20 unhoused people residing in the woods round Glens Falls.
For Howe, the field grew to become a household mission. Her grandfather helped her put the Blessing Box collectively over the course of a weekend. One Sunday, Howe visited the Cavalry congregation to inform them about it, together with her grandfather and extra relations in tow.
“Public speaking isn’t really hard for me, personally, because I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. There were a lot of adults, though, and that got me a little nervous,” she stated. “I kept looking around the room, and people kept nodding their heads. I saw my aunt in the crowd, and she gave me a thumbs up.”
The Blessing Box is open in any respect hours at Cavalry’s Family Life Center, 100 Sherman Ave. in Glens Falls. Anyone who desires to donate non-perishable meals, hygiene items, and no matter else could also be useful is welcome to take action on their very own time. The field might be there.
