The holiday season can be an especially difficult time for families who are struggling to make ends meet. At Care on the Square, we want to help make this season a little easier by providing non-perishable food to families in need through our annual “Blessing Box” Campaign.
We distribute boxes filled with non-perishable food along with our normal monthly produce distribution to help families through the holiday season. Last year, we helped over 160 families in the greater Cleveland area and 20 needy CVC families. You can be part of this effort by providing a Blessing Box on your own, with your family, or together with a community group.
To help ensure that each family receives the basic necessities, we have standardized the list of items for each box. However, you are welcome to add items, as well as an encouraging card, prayer, or personal letter if you would like.
We will collect the completed Blessing Boxes in the CVC Church parking lot on November 28 from 7:30–8:30 a.m. If that time does not work for you, please contact Tom or Sue Wagner (440-546-1120) to arrange to drop your box off at their home.
Thank you for helping us share the love of Christ and bring a blessing to families in need this holiday season!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Sign up at http://bit.ly/bboxsignup or using the qr code below.
2. Purchase ALL of the items in the list below. This can be done as an individual, family, or small group.
3. Put items in a STURDY, SINGLE CLOSED CONTAINER (could be a box or plastic container of some kind). We need them closed so we can stack them in a truck. The items in the list should easily fit in a medium size (18” x 18” x16”) box.
4. Drop them off at Cuyahoga Valley Church on Saturday November 28th between 7:30-8:30 am. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE THE BOXES AT CVC ANY OTHER TIMES WITHOUT TALKING TO TOM OR SUE.
Questions - Call Tom (216-390-0358) or Sue (216-496-0771) Wagner
Sign up here
LIST OF ITEMS TO PUT IN THE BLESSING BOXES
Breakfast & Drinks
- Coffee — 10–12 oz can/package
- Tea bags — 20–40 count
- Sugar — 2 lb bag
- Cereal — 1 large box
- Juice - Shelf-stable
Protein & Main Foods
- Peanut butter — 16–18 oz
- Jelly — 18 oz
- Canned tuna or chicken — 2 large cans
- Macaroni & cheese — 2 boxes
- Canned soup — 2 large cans
- Canned beans — 2 cans
Meal Ingredients
- Rice — 1–2 lb bag or box
- Pasta — 2 boxes (spaghetti, rotini, penne, etc.)
- Spaghetti sauce — 2 large jars
- Canned vegetables — 2 cans
- Stove Top stuffing — 1 box
- Crackers — 1 box saltines or Ritz
- Mayonnaise — 1 jar
- Parmesan cheese — shelf-stable jar
Baking & Treats
- Box cake mix — 1
- Frosting — 1 container
- Box brownie mix — 1
Household
- Dish soap — 1 bottle
- Vegetable or canola oil — 1 small/medium bottle
Optional substitutions
To keep the boxes interesting, feel free to add any of the below:
- Canned fruit
- Applesauce cups
- Oatmeal
- Pancake mix
- Syrup
- Pasta sides
- Canned chili
- Canned ravioli
- Shelf-stable milk
- Granola bars
- Popcorn
- Salt, pepper or basic seasonings