A new addition has been added to Hunter Elementary School in the form of a food box.

The box has been at the school for around three weeks now, and was the idea of Blair Adams, a counselor at the school. Adams said her church and seeing this in other areas inspired her.

“My husband is a minister in Kingsport and they have a Blessing Box at the church, and I thought this community could use that here, so I reached out to Hunter First Baptist Church next door and they built it and donated it,” said Adams.

Items in the box include nonperishable foods and drinks, and even smaller clothing items that can fit, like toboggans and gloves, as well as toiletries. Additional clothing items can be found in the clothes closet at Hunter First Baptist for those who need it.

The box will be open year round and during summer months. Adams said she hopes the public can donate, and she will also check in to see what is needed as well.

Items taken from the Blessing Box and items placed in it have so far been balanced, but Adams said there is a fund that will also pay for food to go in it as well.

The box is part of a larger project also started at the school in recent weeks, called the Hunter Resource Center. This program aims to provide aid to families in need with things like getting the lights turned on in homes, to paying for clothing for a student if the clothing closet at the church does not have it.

“This is an account we have created to help our families,” said Adams. “It just started literally like four weeks ago. We got approval from our superintendent.”

Adams said a yard sale will be taking place between March 13-14 in the gymnasium with items donated that people want sold. All proceeds will benefit the Hunter Resource Center.

People can make donations to the Blessing Box itself or can make a check donation to the resource program for funding.

For more information, you can call Hunter Elementary School at 423-547-4074.

“I see this as something that could spread throughout Carter County,” said Adams. “It’s a great way to reach out to the families, especially right now when we have a lot of families struggling.”