Seventh-grader and Southern Lehigh Girl Scout Madeline Arruda stands next to the blessing box she built at Calvary Bible Fellowship Church in Coopersburg. There are now three such food pantries in and around the borough, including blessing boxes at Faith UCC and St. James. The network is supported by local food donors and Betty Lou’s Food Pantry. (Contributed photo)

Coopersburg area residents will have additional access to food via a blessing box that was recently built by a local Girl Scout.

Madeline Arruda is a seventh-grader and a Cadette in Girl Scout Troop 6414, which is located in the Southern Lehigh area. She explained that she learned about blessing boxes while volunteering with Betty Lou’s Food Pantry in Coopersburg.

“Blessing Boxes are wooden boxes on poles like Little Lending Libraries,” she said. “Instead of books, they have nutrient-dense foods that are quick and easy to open on the spot, not needing to be cooked, such as peanut butter. The food is intended for people in-between food pantry distribution days, which are once per month, per family.”

Dedicated May 3, the blessing box Madeline built was made possible thanks to support from local businesses. Specifically, Home Depot provided lumber and supplies needed for its construction and Ace Hardware donated paint. Sherwin-Williams donated paintbrushes and Horizon Signs provided a plaque for the box. She also thanked the volunteers at Betty Lou’s and Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, 6782 N. Main St., Coopersburg, for their commitment to making the blessing box a reality. Betty Lou’s and the church will help keep the blessing box stocked with donated food items in the future, she explained.