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Food and Farm Council of Riley County and City of Manhattan

Blessing Boxes

Blessing Boxes for Manhattan/Riley County are a network of small outdoor food pantries that serve those in need 24/7. If you need a blessing, donations are available. If you are blessed, leave a blessing.

Blessing Boxes

Location of Blessing Boxes

Northwest area of Manhattan

  • ATA Bus – Westloop Businesses, 2700 Anderson College Avenue

  • United Methodist Church, 1609 College Ave

  • College Heights Baptist Church, 2320 Anderson

  • Manhattan Area Tech College, 1706 Wreath Ave

  • Peace Lutheran Church, 2500 Kimball

  • Pediatric Associates, 1133 College

  • Riley County Family & Child Resource Center, 2101 Claflin Rd

  • Tim Engle, American Family Insurance, 3320 Anderson

  • Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1110 College Ave

Northeast area of Manhattan

  • Breadbasket Northview Elementary, 300 Griffith Dr

  • Breadbasket Eisenhower Middle School, 800 Walters Dr

  • Vineyard Community Church, 2400 Casement

Southwest area of Manhattan

  • Rock Hills Church, 2610 Farm Bureau Rd

Southeast area of Manhattan

  • First Congregational United Church of Christ, 700 Poyntz

  • First Free Methodist Church, 1231 Poyntz

  • First Lutheran Church, 930 Poyntz

  • Manhattan Catholic Schools/Seven Dolors Parish, 730 Colorado

  • Seventh Day Adventist Church, 600 Laramie

  • UUFM Wonder Workshop, 506 S 4th St

Other Riley County Locations

  • Leonardville - Leonardville Pride, 118 N Erpelding St

  • Ogden - #1. 303 16th St #2. 234 Riley Ave/S Walnut

  • Randolph - Randolph Pride, 202 E Randolph St, north side of park

  • Riley - Riley Presbyterian, 104 Kansas Ave

  • Zeandale - Community Church, N Tabor Valley Rd

Map

See a Google Map of locations


Download

PDFs in English or Spanish of box locations

Guidelines

Would you like to help stock a Blessing Box? Please take a look at these guidelines.

When donating items please follow CDC handwashing guidance and disinfect the box interior and handles frequently. Buy canned foods with pull rings when available for easy opening or include small handheld can openers. 


Suggested food items for the Blessing Boxes during most of the year listed below.

Some items may be compromised during winter months. Note the asterisk items.*

  • Canned soups and sauces*

  • Canned Meat (Tuna, Chicken, etc.)*

  • Peanut butter, nuts, and alternatives

  • Almond Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter, Coconut Butter, etc.

  • Beans, canned, especially garbanzo, chili, & baked beans *

  • Rice, white or brown

  • Pasta (preferably in boxes)

  • Cereals/instant oatmeal packets

  • Crackers/granola bars

  • Canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, & tomato paste*

  • Canned Fruits, Canned Vegetables *

  • Condiments (ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, mayo)

  • Jelly, pancake syrup

  • Baking and Pancake Mixes

  • Microwave meals/to-go meals and shelf-stable meal kits

  • Individual serving size items

  • Infant formula, dry infant cereal

  • Package protein drinks

  • Dried fruit

*Not recommended during winter temperatures below freezing


Other items needed

  • Hand can openers

  • Shampoo/Conditioner/Combs/Brushes

  • Toilet paper

  • Feminine care Pads/Regular Tampons

  • Toothbrush/Toothpaste

  • Deodorant

  • Razors

  • Hand soap, dish soap, bath soap, hand sanitizer

  • Laundry detergent

  • Gloves/Hats/Scarves

  • Baby supplies (wipes, diapers, etc.)

  • Food Safety

Download

Stock the Box guidelines.

Do Not Donate

It is a blessing to donate food to those in need. But it is not a blessing to donate unsafe food. If the blessing box is outside of a building, and outdoor temperatures are extremely cold or hot, many foods can be compromised which could reduce the quality and be unsafe. Keep these tips in mind when deciding the types and forms of food to donate. When donating items please follow CDC handwashing guidance and disinfect the box interior and handles frequently.


Throughout the year, do not donate the following to a Blessing Box

  • Open or partially used items

  • Rusty or unlabeled cans

  • Homemade or home canned foods

  • Glass because of breakage

  • Food in torn cardboard boxes

  • Food in torn plastic packaging

  • Perishable items - NO raw meats, eggs, dairy, fresh breads

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Dented, bent, leaking, or bulging cans

  • Any packaged food past its “best by,” “use by,” or “sell by” date

  • Any packaged food with damaged tamper-resistant seals

  • Re-packaged foods

  • No fresh fruits or vegetables – these can spoil easily during extreme temperature changes, get easily damaged, or get contaminated by animals or insects. Create a plan for distribution of these nutritious foods that will be safer!

How to Volunteer or Sponsor a Box

Email rileycountyfoodandfarmcouncil@gmail.com

Impact

25 outdoor pantries provide shelf-stable food and personal hygiene items.

Testimonial

"Our Blessing Box helps our neighbors better meet their family food needs. We restock at least 3x per week.  The need is great. Help stock a box whenever you can."

Blessing Box Sponsor

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