Seeing the needs of the community and wanting to do more, Maiya Dilbone created blessing boxes to help feed others. Currently, she is a senior at Ohio Northern University, studying marketing. At just 11 years old she began volunteering at St. Pats Soup Kitchen in Troy. As Maiya got older she started to notice patrons being embarrassed for needing help. She especially noticed teenagers being self-conscious when coming through the soup kitchen for a meal. With community service always being a huge part of her life, Maiya knew she was being called to do more.

“I wanted to create a way to make food available with no questions asked. I also wanted it to be bright and inviting. While my dream was to get a real food truck and drive it into neighborhoods serving food, I was only 16 at the time so that was a little out of reach. However, with a lot of praying and brainstorming, I came up with my next idea, to create little blessing boxes that looked like food trucks and would be a way for people to take what they need and give what they can.”

The first blessing box was installed in March of 2020 and has since grown to 18 blessing boxes in 5 different cities.

To get involved, you can be part of filling the blessing boxes with non-perishable food anonymously. Another way to join the mission is to sign up through the Sign-up Genius link on the Facebook page, The Community Food Truck, to fill the blessing boxes on a scheduled day.

“If you sign up to fill the blessing boxes on a scheduled day, you do not have to fill all the blessing boxes, you can make your own route. We are also happy to provide the food, which can be coordinated upon signing up.”

When filling the blessing boxes, please only stock with non-perishable food for sanitary reasons. Please do not add clothes, toiletries, or fresh/frozen food. In the winter, please do not donate glass jars as the risk of freezing and shattering is high.

Some of the most popular items are cereal, snacks, canned meat, soup with pop-top lids, Hormel Compleat Meals, ravioli, ramen noodles, tuna kits, drinks, and peanut butter and jelly. Nonperishable food that is ready to eat or only takes water to prepare is the most popular.

In West Milton, you’ll find a blessing box at the back of the Revive It parking lot. It was recently moved along Washington Street, facing the park, due to the addition underway on the old West Milton Record building/Revive It at 2 S. Miami Street.

Maiya Dilbone saw a need and filled it. Not only has she been part of getting food into the hands of those that need it, but she also showed others a way to bless their neighbors. If you feel led, add a few extra basic items to your grocery list. You can drive right through town and quickly slip a donation into the blessing box. Your donation might seem minimal to you, but to someone experiencing food insecurity, it could mean the world. Take a moment to continue what Maiya started.

“I graduate in May and get married in June, so there are lots of exciting things coming up. I plan to stay in Troy because my fiancé owns a car detailing and surface protection company called Exoworks located in Troy. We are truly so grateful for the community! It would not be possible without the hundreds of people who have stocked and cleaned the blessing boxes the past three, almost four years.”

https://www.thecommunityfoodtruck.com

Locations:

TROY

• The Lincoln Community Center - 110 Ash St.

• St. Patricks Soup Kitchen - 25 N. Mulberry St.

• Reading for Change - 105 S. Market St., Troy

• Stonyridge Veterinary Services - 500 Stonyridge Ave.

• Miami County Dental Clinic - 70 Troy Town Dr.

• Gospel Community Church - 1102 S. Market St.

• The Valley Church Troy - 916 N. Market St.

• Missionary Church East - 1509 W. Main St.

• Troy View Church of God - 1770 n. Country R. 25-A

• First Baptist Church - 53 S Norwich Rd.

• Family Abuse Shelter- 530 Crescent Dr.

• First Place Food Pantry- 1100 Wayne St.

TIPP CITY

• The Needy Basket- 330 S 5th St.

• Upper Room Worship Center- 648 N Hyatt St.

PLEASANT HILL

• 115 N Main St.

WEST MILTON

• Re-Vive It Decor- 2 S. Miami St.

PIQUA

• Melcher-Sowers Funeral Home- 646 W. High St.

• Transformed Life Church- 421 Wood St.