Junior Women’s League of Smithfield creates food resource guide, adds Blessing Boxes

Submitted by Junior Women’s League of Smithfield

SMITHFIELD — The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield (JWL) has seen months of hard work by its newest members come to fruition with the completion of two projects to address food insecurity in Johnston County.

In August 2019, members of JWL’s provisional class were split into two project groups. As they began researching the county’s needs, one group determined that while there are a number of organizations that offer assistance, it was often difficult to find information about the programs offered.

After months of research and outreach to organizations in the area, the first Johnston County Food Resource Guide was published in March with printed guides placed at JWL’s Blessing Boxes around the county. A digital version is also available at www. JWLSmithfield.com.

The second group elected to expand on the previous provisional class’ Blessing Box project. They would go on to build and install four new Blessing Boxes, which are small pantries stocked with free food and personal care items for people in need that are able to be accessed at any time. There latest boxes are in Archer Lodge, Kenly,

Meadow and Pine Level. The provisional members coordinated a drive among JWL members to donate supplies to stock and replenish the boxes, and members of the general public are also encouraged to contribute items at the following locations:

• Archer Lodge Fire Department, located at 6483 Covered Bridge Road (Clayton).

• Benson Fire Department, located at 313 S. Elm St.

• Kenly Fire Department, located at 101 W. First St.

• Meadow Fire Department, located at 7409 N.C. 50 South (Benson).

• Pine Level Fire Department, located at 104 W. Main St.

• Selma Fire Department, located at 201 N. Webb St.

• Smithfield Fire Department, located at 111 S. Fourth St.

• Thanksgiving Fire Department, at 2375 Thanksgiving Fire Department Road (Selma).

“We are so proud of our provisional members and their work to add new resources and raise awareness of existing resources during this time in which the needs have been so apparent,” said Erin Smith, vice president of community outreach and engagement. “We invite people who would like to support our Blessing Box initiative to contribute nonperishable food and personal care items to the boxes directly or to make a donation on the JWL website.”

JWL members will continue to update the Food Resource Guide and ask that anyone who has information regarding other available assistance please email that information to jwlsmithfield@ gmail.com.