Originally published on hometownlife.com:  "Church Blessings Box:  Take what you need, leave what you can give"

For a long time, members of the New Hope Unitarian Universalist Congregation in New Hudson havemade monthly donations of peanut butter and jelly to be distributed by Active Faith. But the congregation wanted to do more to contribute to the community.

"One of our members brought the idea of Blessings Box," said Kathy Silver, director of religious education.  "The original idea was for non-perishable food but we talked to Active Faith. Church members can put adonation in the box for things people can't buy on food stamps."

That includes paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, household cleaning products, face soaps, laundry detergents, and diapers. 

"It's help-yourself service. The donations are for anyone in the community," said Silver.  "They can stop byand pick-up what they need that's in the box." 

Congregation members are donating the items for the Blessings Box but Silver said other people are welcome to add their donated items also.  A blue weatherized box was built by congregation member Brian Tyler, who lives in Brighton. The box is attached to the west side of the church, which is at 57885 Grand River in New Hudson, west of the roundabout. 

"It's not close to the street.  People can pull in and get what they need without people seeing them," said Silver.  "We do worry that we will find all the trees covered with toilet paper. You can't control what people do. We decided as a church that we would try to do something else for the community." 

The church flies a rainbow flag from its sign in support of the LGBTQ people in the community.  The flag has been stolen numerous times during the past several years, Silver said, but the congregation keeps replacing it with flags that have been donated by neighbors and friends. 

"We're a hopeful group. I know there are people in South Lyon who need help — there is a need in the community," said Silver.  New Hope is a small congregation that welcomes all people and believes that everyone deserves love, justice and respect, she said.