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A ribbon-cutting was held Thursday afternoon for the dedication of the new blessing box at Weddington Hills Elementary. Circuit Board Assembly
Two new blessing boxes have been built as part of the continuing effort to combat food insecurity across the county.
Leadership Cabarrus Class of 2024, as part of its legacy project to benefit the community, sponsored and built blessing boxes at Weddington Hills Elementary School and Gibson Mill.
There are now 11 boxes across the county: eight in Concord, two in Kannapolis and one in Harrisburg. The boxes are filled with nonperishable foods and personal care items for people in need. Editor's note: We are double checking these numbers after we were told of at least two more Blessing Boxes at area schools.
The box at Weddington Hills is “super special” said Sheryl Kluge, founder of the nonprofit 1Can and the creator of Cabarrus blessing boxes, because it’s going to primarily serve the families of students at Weddington, along with Harold E. Winkler Middle and West Cabarrus High.
There have been blessing boxes at Winecoff Elementary and at Patriots Stem Elementary for almost a year. Dave Hunkele built and donated them.
Dave Hunkele is shown here with the Blessing Box at Winecoff Elementary.
“A lot of families are in need,” she said, noting that at least 30% of Cabarrus County residents are suffering from food insecurity while many families are dealing with increased housing costs.
“Our hope is that if we can maybe keep one family from being evicted and keep them in their home ... then it (the blessing box) did what it’s supposed to do,” Kluge continued.
The blessing box at Weddington Hills Elementary will primarily serve families of students at Weddington Hills, Winkler Middle, and West Cabarrus High.
A wide array of community officials, from school and city personnel to the Leadership Cabarrus members, came out Thursday afternoon for the ribbon-cutting of the Weddington Hills blessing box.
“The leadership class 2024 is honored to have worked with 1Can to complete our legacy project in ways that will leave a positive and lasting impact on the community by helping combat food insecurity,” said Traci Rowan, co-chair of Project Management for Leadership Cabarrus-Class 2024.
The Class of 2024, which is comprised of 33 members, has raised roughly $15,000 as part of its fundraising efforts for the boxes, and held several food drives for 1Can.
Weddington Hills, Winkler and West Cabarrus will work to maintain the blessing box and make sure it stays stocked with items.
“Our sincere hope is that this initiative becomes a valuable resource for our students and families,” said Anne Marie Sarvis, a school social worker at Winkler Middle.
Since opening the first blessing box at Concord Fire Station No. 5 in 2019, the boxes have served as a lifeline for so many people in the community.
1Can distributed a little over 40,000 pounds of food to people in need in 2023 and so far this year, the organization has distributed more than 20,000 pounds of food, including 5,800 pounds last month, according to Kluge.
1Can has 32 blessing box keepers who help maintain the boxes, Kluge said, though that number will increase by two with the addition of the Weddington Hills box.
“I don’t have the words to tell you how grateful I am,” she told the Leadership Cabarrus class during the dedication. “I am just so proud of all of you and all your dedication to our organization.”
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A ribbon-cutting was held Thursday afternoon for the dedication of the new blessing box at Weddington Hills Elementary.
The blessing box at Weddington Hills Elementary will primarily serve families of students at Weddington Hills, Winkler Middle, and West Cabarrus High.
Dave Hunkele is shown here with the Blessing Box at Winecoff Elementary.
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