Gulf Shores Elementary installs Blessing Box

By Melanie LeCroy / melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 12/15/21

The Gulf Shores Elementary Kiwanis KKids Club recently installed a Blessing Box at Gulf Shores Elementary School. The freestanding structure sits near the front entrance of the school and is …

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Gulf Shores Elementary installs Blessing Box

The Kiwanis KKids Club at Gulf Shores Elementary School has installed a Blessing Box in front of the school. Members of the community are encouraged to take what they need and leave what they can.
The Kiwanis KKids Club at Gulf Shores Elementary School has installed a Blessing Box in front of the school. Members of the community are encouraged to take what they need and leave what they can.
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The Gulf Shores Elementary Kiwanis KKids Club recently installed a Blessing Box at Gulf Shores Elementary School. The freestanding structure sits near the front entrance of the school and is available to those in need 24/7.


Lindsay Taylor is a teacher and KKids adviser at Gulf Shores Elementary and serves as one of the directors for the Miss Shrimp Festival Pageant. This year pageant contestants collected items for Blessing Boxes all over Baldwin County and she was shocked at how fast the boxes were emptied after being filled.


"I was talking to the KKids about the Blessing Boxes and we all decided that it would be a great thing to have on our campus. The main thing that we all loved about this project was that it was something that the kids could work on daily right here on campus. They are helping not only kids at our school but also anyone in the community that needs it," Taylor said.


The KKids used money raised through several projects last year to buy building materials, a parent volunteered to build the box and the grandmother of a former student painted the box. The KKids received a large donation of food from the Miss Honeybee Pageant and Gulf Shores Elementary students have been bringing in items over the last few months. Taylor said they have a stockpile that should allow for several restocks.


The KKids will check the box and restock daily as needed and anyone in the community can stop by the box to stock it or take what they need. Taylor and fellow teacher and KKids adviser Ashley Weekley have plans to check the box weekly during the summer and enlist a few KKids to help with the summer shift to ensure it is full year-round.


"The kids are so excited. They couldn't wait to get it stocked and ready. I have been involved with Blessing Boxes before and told them about my experience. I was shocked that a box could be filled one day and empty the next. That really hit home with the students that there is a big need in our community," Taylor said.


Anyone wishing to donate to the Gulf Shores Elementary Kiwanis KKids can drop money off to the Gulf Shores Elementary school office. Checks should be made out to the GSES KKids Club. Food donations can be placed directly in the Blessing Box.