LOCAL BOX LOCATIONS

Boxes below are listed by city (starting with Slidell) and include the type of donations accepted at each.

 SLIDELL

American Legion Post 185 1680 St. Ann Place / Slidell (food, toiletries / necessities)

126 Meadow Moss Dr / Slidell (food, toiletries / necessities)

219 Tumblebrook St / Slidell (food & books)

Dr. Seuss Little Library

3819 Berkley St. / Slidell (books only)

Slidell Bark Park

901 Howze Beach Rd / Slidell (pet food, pet supplies)

S&H Eats

1830 US Hwy 190 / Slidell (food)

Green Oaks Apothecary

2238 1st St / Slidell (food, toiletries / necessities)

The Pet Food Pantry

550 Old Spanish Trail / Slidell (food, books / necessities)

26 Cypress Meadow Loop / Slidell (books only)

Lowry-Dunham, Case & Vivien

2001 1st. St / Slidell (food, toiletries / necessities)

 PEARL RIVER

39460 Willis Alley / Pearl River (food, books / necessities)

P.R. United Methodist Church

65480 Hwy 41 / Pearl River (food, toiletries / necessities)

 ABITA SPRINGS

The Woman’s Center

71667 Leveson St / Abita Springs (food, toiletries / necessities)

 LACOMBE

434 Mini Storage

61864 LA Hwy 434 / Lacombe (food, toiletries / necessities

Head Start

60366 S. 24th St / Lacombe (food, toiletries / necessities)

St. Tammany Animal Services

31078 Hwy 36 / Lacombe (pet food and pet supplies)

Lacombe Recreation Center 61100 N. 12th St / Lacombe (books & sports equipment)

 MANDEVILLE

A + Help

606 Lafitte St / Mandeville (food, books / necessities)

528 Kleber St / Mandeville (food, books, toys / necessities)

 COVINGTON

Bogue Chitto Association Memorial Park

1025 N Columbia St / Covington (food, toiletries / necessities)

Head Start

73060 E. Stadium Dr / Covington (food, toiletries / necessities)

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

1 N. Marigold Dr. / Covington (food, toiletries / necessities)

 MADISONVILLE

Church of the Good Shepherd 501 Cedar St. / Madisonville ( food, toiletries /necessities)

“Single serve, ready-made things are great for people who may not have a home to cook, and that are healthy and filling. I try to put things in the boxes that don’t need seasonings, too, and we occasionally put treats - everybody deserves a treat sometimes,” Rai added.

“I consider the fact that a lot of the people that have need of the food may not have a place to cook it. The need is currently so great, I could burn through a $100 trip to the savage store once a week to supply two boxes,” Rai said. “Sometimes we put toiletries inside, and can openers are also quickly picked up.”

Meg shared a story of finding out just how important the boxes are to the community. “We were just leaving stocking a box when a lady rode up on a bike. When she saw the peanut butter in the box, she said, ‘Oh, this is great! My grandkids are visiting and I don’t have anything for them!’”

Several of the boxes are painted & decorated, and no two are alike. Eric built the initial boxes in 2018 and had the knowledge on how to make them weatherproof, as he has a construction background.

Amy also maintains a list of locations of the boxes they built, as well as others that have been added by other residents or groups.These boxes are a never-closed and easy way to support our community, and show the humanity that the Slidell area is known for. The food boxes must have nonperishable items.

“The boxes are USED! They are a blessing. I absolutely love them and I am thrilled to be a part of it,” said Amy.

In the month of May, Amy and Eric Thomas are once again doing maintenance on some of the 26 boxes that include food boxes, little libraries and even pet pantries. The food boxes are kept waterproof and must contain only non perishable items.

“People can email me at amyreneethomas@gmail.com or call or text at 985-285-1602 to let me know if they would be interested in helping,” said Amy.

MARCH 2017: I was rushing to a pet physical therapy appointment. My dog-daughter, Hannah, was still recovering from ACL surgery on both legs and required constant care. With the huge plastic cone of shame around her head, lifting her rather rotund rump into the car was a bit challenging and awkward, to say the least. With a mighty heave, I placed her safely in the backseat of my car. That’s when I felt the pop.

I knew this feeling; it had happened before. It wasn’t physically painful, but the emotional and psychological pain was very real. It had been twelve years since my bilateral mastectomy from breast cancer, and my body was still rejecting the implants from my reconstructive surgery.

I hurried inside to the bathroom. Standing before the mirror, there was no doubt my implant had torn. I was embarrassed about my lop-sided appearance and infuriated that my journey through cancer was still haunting me. I had heard about the SMH Appearance Center and the help they give to cancer patients. But I didn’t have cancer anymore. And, when I did, SMH wasn’t where I received my treatment. I called anyway. That’s when I met Wendy Barber.