Girl Scout troop donates 1st of 8 blessing boxes
Posted on 10/28/2019
Blessing Box at Jefferson Heights(SPS) -- It was a bright afternoon on the lawn at Jefferson Heights Elementary on Monday despite the overcast skies and misting rain.

That’s because of Girl Scout Troop 73 and its donation of a blessing box that houses school supplies for students in need.

The idea behind the box is for students who need paper, maybe a pencil, or perhaps an eraser to take what they will use and for anyone to fill up the box with donated supplies.

The troop came up with the idea as its assignment to gain a Silver Award. They had to find a problem and figure out a long-term solution. The girls said the “problem” they discovered is that not all students have or can afford school supplies. Their solution was the blessing box and this one took on the shape and look of a pencil.

The box is mounted in cement on the front lawn of the school. It has a latching door and weather stripping that keeps the supplies safe from the weather conditions.

The girls, along with a little help from a few adults, came up with the plans and began the construction in early September.

They worked an estimated 15 hours each on the box. They cut the wood. They screwed it together. They painted it. And, they learned the core principle of construction.

“Measure twice, cut once,” said girl scout Shayanna Grimes.

This particular blessing box is the first of eight the troop is planning to build. They said they will construct seven more, one for each of the schools in the Sapulpa Public Schools district. But, not all of the boxes will be pencils. The other three designs will be a school bus, a crayon box, and a schoolhouse.