Outside the Cedar Hill City Hall and Museum, a shiny red box once used to house newspapers has been repurposed to “bless” the people in need in the quaint Robertson County town.

As an affixed sign indicates, this is a “Blessing Box,” an outdoor pantry available 24/7, stocked primarily with donated non-perishable foods and toiletries.

It’s a no-strings-attached offering that merely instructs visitors to “Take what you need. Give what you can.” Blessing boxes are becoming increasingly popular as churches and communities find them more convenient than food pantries with set hours.

“We’ve had great response,” said Betty Richards, Cedar Hill’s city recorder. “When the box gets low on items, it always gets filled back up quickly. There are times when we even have to bring items inside because the box is full.”

Between Robertson and Sumner Counties, as well as Goodlettsville in northern Davidson County, there are more than 30 blessing boxes situated in church parking lots and storefronts. Following is a list of locations:

Robertson County

Cedar Hill

Cedar Hill City Hall and Museum

290 South Main St.

Cedar Hill, TN 37032

Greenbrier

*Greenbrier United Methodist Church (under construction; opens 6/19)

204 West Main St.

Greenbrier, TN 37073

Greenbrier Realty

2345 US Hwy 41

Greenbrier, TN 37073

Orlinda

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

3049 Pleasant Hill Church Rd.

Orlinda, TN 37141

Springfield

Open Door Pregnancy Center

1109 S Main St.

Springfield, TN 37172

New Chapel United Methodist Church

5016 Hwy. 49 W

Springfield, TN 37172

Springfield United Methodist Church

511 S. Oak St.

Springfield, TN 37172

My Father’s House

101 10th Ave. E

Springfield, TN 37172

Sumner County

Bethpage

The Ole Milliken Store

1196 Harve Brown Rd.

Bethpage, TN 37022

Cottontown

Cherry Mound Baptist Church

4168 Hwy. 31W

Cottontown, TN 37048

Gallatin

Private Homeowner

222 Tupper Dr.

Gallatin, TN 37966

Unlimited Potential (next door)

260 East Winchester St.

Gallatin, TN 37066

Gallatin Public Works

641 Long Hollow Pike

Gallatin, TN 37066

Liberty Baptist Church

1047 S. Water St.

Gallatin, TN 37066

Police Department Annex

117 E. Winchester St.

Gallatin, TN 37066

Seventh-Day Adventist Church

873 Hartsville Pike

Gallatin, TN 37066

Chamber of Commerce

118 W. Main St.

Gallatin, TN 37066

Mitchellville

Mitchellville Fire Dept.

1000 E. Main St.

Portland, TN 37148

Millersville

Millersville Public Library

1179 Hwy. 31W

Goodlettsville, TN 37072

Portland

Fountain Head Baptist Church

314 Fountain Head Rd.

Portland, TN 37148

McKendree Memorial United Methodist Church

208 Wheeler St.

Portland, TN 37148

Oasis Seventh-Day Adventist Church

703 S. Broadway

Portland, TN 37148

Hands of Hope Pantry

101C South Russell St.

Portland, TN 37148

Portland West Middle School

619 College St.

Portland, TN 37148

Westmoreland

Private Homeowner

4032 Old Hwy. 31E

Westmoreland, TN 37186

Fairfield United Methodist Church

909 Fairfield Rd.

Westmoreland, TN 37186

White House

First Baptist Church

2800 Hwy. 31W

White House, TN 37188

Portland Road Church of Christ

225 Hwy. 76

White House, TN 37188

Revolution Church

3644 Hwy. 31W

White House, TN 37188

(Next to) Choice Auto

2836 Hwy. 31W

White House, TN 37188

Goodlettsville

Goodlettsville Church of Christ

411 S Main St.,

Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 *If you have a blessing box that is not listed, email rachel@staypositive.news and we’ll add it to the list.