Melinda Thompson, Rotary District 6690 assistant governor, from left, Wendy Anderson, St. Clairsville Rotary club president, and Kathi Hinckley-Vaughn, director of the city food pantry, pose in front of the Blessing Box located next to the St. Clairsville Municipal Building.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Council of Churches Food Pantry and the St. Clairsville Rotary Club partnered to create a Blessing Box that is located next to the city building on Market Street near the utility payment window.

The community is encouraged to bring shelf stable food items and hygiene items such as shampoo and toothpaste, as well as cleaning products, to help stock the box.

The Rotary Club of St. Clairsville secured a matching grant from the Rotary district to provide the funds to build the blessing box and to stock it for two months.

“People have been asking for this resource here in St Clairsville, but we never had the extra funds in our budget. The Rotary grant has been a true blessing for our community,” St. Clairsville Food Pantry Director Kathi Hinckley-Vaughn said.

She worked with fellow food pantry volunteer Mitch Slotwinski to construct the structure.

Church of Christ, Black Diamond Girl Scout Council Belle Monte Service Unit, Community Action Commission of Belmont County, St. Mary School, Thomas Auto Centers, Olive Branch Christian Gifts and Thoburn United Methodist Church will be monitoring the blessing box through the end of the year.

“This box allows our community to help our neighbors in need,” Rotary club President Wendy Anderson said. “The sign on the door says it all: Take what you need, leave what you can.”

The box is located next to the St. Clairsville Municipal Building at 100 N. Market St.