The Clay family, who lives on Jewell Street in Pacific Beach, saw a need in the community and decided to do something about it. They took the concept of a Little Free Library and turned it into a “Blessing Box.”
The family built and installed the light blue box in front of their house, in the 4700 block of Jewell Street, this week and filled it with packaged food, canned goods with utensils and napkins. “My mom sent me an article from someone who did it in North Carolina, and since we already feed the homeless twice a month, it felt like it was a great project to take on,” said Amy Clay. Her boys Dylan and Jesse, students at Bird Rock Elementary, helped build and fill the box. “I want the boys to know that we have more blessings than we can count and others are not as fortunate. Sometimes growing up in communities like Pacific Beach and Bird Rock give you a false sense of reality on what really exists outside of these bubbles,” she said. The Clays have lived in San Diego’s coastal communities for about 12 years, but were not sure how their Pacific Beach neighbors would react. “At first we were worried about the neighbors resisting the idea, but since it’s been up we find new things in it every day, books, jackets, food, etc. I guess it’s almost a bit of a hybrid but the intention is to be food. It’s so nice to have a community so interested in helping.”