Blessing Box brings food, books and community support to Eugene Field Elementary
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., (KBSI) — A new Blessing Box at Eugene Field Elementary is quickly becoming a hub for both giving and receiving, serving students, families and neighbors along Nickey Street.
The outdoor cabinet, stocked with shelf-stable food items and children’s books, was donated and installed by the Kirchner family, whose ties to Eugene Field span multiple generations. The box was placed in front of the school and is accessible to the campus community and the surrounding neighborhood.
Principal Kristen Spain said the idea grew from a concept she saw at another elementary school in Jackson about a year ago.
“They took the vision and made it a thousand times better than I ever imagined,” Spain said.
This school year, Eugene Field launched a Family Lighthouse team to complement its Leader in Me initiative. During an early meeting, Spain shared examples of service projects, including Free Little Libraries seen around the community. She later approached alumnus Timothy Kirchner and his wife, Kaysea, about helping build a similar structure.
The couple purchased a prefabricated cabinet and installed it last month with help from their sons, Klay, a first grader at Eugene Field, and Konner, a junior high student. Timothy Kirchner painted the box in school colors and weatherproofed it.
“It just became a family labor of love,” Spain said.
Since its installation, the Blessing Box has received donations from staff, students, alumni and neighbors. It has also inspired fundraising efforts aimed at supporting families on the south side of Poplar Bluff who are facing economic challenges.
The school’s Student Lighthouse team now helps maintain the box during the week under the guidance of school counselor Esther Luna. Spain said student interest in the project has been especially strong.
“We haven’t seen them this excited to help with a leadership role in a long time,” she said.
Spain said students frequently bring food from home to stock the box and take pride in contributing. Students are also allowed to take food items for family meals when needed and exchange books from the library section.
“I truly believe literacy is one of the key factors needed to break the cycle of poverty,” Spain said. “But right now, an even greater need seems to be food.”
She cited Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, noting that basic necessities such as food must be met before students can fully thrive academically and emotionally.
According to guidelines developed by the Student Lighthouse team, the box accepts unopened, store-bought nonperishable items that are boxed, bagged or canned, as well as age-appropriate books. Donors are asked to check expiration dates. Frozen items refrigerated foods and fresh fruit are not accepted.
While clothing cannot be placed in the box, donations of coats, hats, gloves, shoes and clothing for children are accepted through the school nurse’s office. Monetary donations may be mailed to Eugene Field Elementary, 711 Nickey St., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901, marked “Attention: Blessing Box.”
