Normandy Methodist Church Impacts Bedford County With Blessing Boxes.

by | Dec 2021

THE DREAMS of one individual can shape the heart of an entire community. We can all look around and see the change we wish to see in the world. Many situations may seem too big; however, all it takes is those first few steps to really make a difference in your community. This is exactly what Pastor Laurie Raulston did in Normandy and the surrounding areas.

Last fall, Raulston was traveling with her husband when she came upon a blessing box. Her curiosity inspired her to open the box, and she discovered it was stocked with supplies that could be taken by anyone in need of them. Soon after this experience, she felt a call to also establish a blessing box in the Normandy area. She returned home and presented this idea to her church Normandy Methodist. Because of their small congregation, they were unable to manage a traditional food pantry. However, the blessing box offered up the perfect solution to this problem. The outreach and witness teams of the church immediately began laying the foundation for this dream to come to fruition. The town joined in the church’s efforts and approved for the box to be placed on town property. The blessing box currently resides on Front Street.

Pastor Laurie Raulston says “A blessing box is a simple way to let our neighbors know they are loved, and their needs are important. The blessing box is a perfect way to live out Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:1-4 about giving in private.” People from all around the community have participated in leaving and taking items. A second box was recently installed in front of Cascade Middle School. This box is supported by the parents and students along with three other churches, Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church (UMC), Wartrace UMC, and Bell Buckle UMC—all of which have been inspired by this calling.

Through the process of maintaining the box, Pastor Laurie Raulston along with the other participants have learned a few unexpected things; some of the most needed items like laundry detergent, toilet paper, and garbage bags cannot be found at larger food banks, making the blessing boxes some people’s only avenue to acquire those things. They also learned that dried beans and rice are the least likely items to be removed from the box. Lastly, they have realized that food pantries are not open on weekends whereas the blessing box is always available.

Pastor Laurie Raulston explained that the last ten days of the month is where they see the most need. Individuals with already limited resources begin to see those run out.

The blessing box is a huge benefit to the community. It inspires individuals to reach out and create a change while also showing those who are in need that they are not alone. In the words of Pastor Laurie Raulston, “It’s a blessing to be a blessing.” -GN

More Good News

Hands & Hearts for the Homeless

Hands & Hearts for the Homeless

SUMMER’S HEAT presses down on the long line forming at the food truck. Nearby, others wait their turn at cooling stations of plastic wading pools and misting fans. It’s not a summer music festival,...

read more
Never-ending stories

Never-ending stories

Like our lives, stories travel. Walk with Kyle Thomas on the worn path of a writer, but don’t dilly dally around, or he’ll run off and leave you. Envision the classic scene of a writer at an old...

read more
It’s what I do.

It’s what I do.

OPEN THE door of the Habitat Thrift Store just off Shelbyville’s square and expect to leave with a lighter heart and a smile on your face. Drop whatever is wearing on you outside their door; it’ll...

read more
Feed them, and they will come

Feed them, and they will come

ONE LOOK at bewildered faces in the grocery store as we shop reflects the struggle to afford groceries and life’s necessities. The roller coaster of unprecedented events of the past few years...

read more
Transported

Transported

Staring into the storefront windows; you’re a child again. Whether transported to your earliest Christmas mornings or into make-believe stories of days gone by, Phillips General Store in Bell Buckle...

read more
Celebrating a Sweet Recovery

Celebrating a Sweet Recovery

“THE SWEETS baking wasn’t my passion to start,” local baker Cole Krieg said. He was passionate about livestock and farming – a family trait he acquired from his great-grandmother. He had gone to...

read more
It’s a Wonderful Life

It’s a Wonderful Life

DR. EDWARD Perryman is a nature lover and devout Christian with a humble spirit, and his story inspires many to pursue their dreams and live their lives to the fullest. Good News story writer Tina...

read more
Come in and Sit a Spell

Come in and Sit a Spell

COFFEE SHOPS are a growing industry worldwide. Sitting down at a coffee shop is the most efficient way to catch up with friends and family, enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee, get some work done...

read more
Always with her, no matter what.

Always with her, no matter what.

FAITH AND art have filled Marie Lane Madeiros’ heart for as long as she can remember, inseparable like muscle and marrow. Not one season of her life is without them. Her earliest art memories trace...

read more
Hope captured

Hope captured

IMAGINE A life with no hope for your child – no hope for education, to learn to read or write; no hope for growing into their dreams; no hope for what we would call a normal life. Imagine that...

read more
Where everybody knows your name

Where everybody knows your name

JENNIFER COOK’S family began investing early in her teaching career. It wasn’t the type of investment overseen by financial advisors, but it added up over the years and paid off for Cook and her...

read more
Needing Room from the Boom

Needing Room from the Boom

THE SKY’S the limit for future pilots, and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and the Shelbyville Municipal Airport will play a vital role in the takeoff of their careers. Statista.com...

read more
Cleaning up the duck

Cleaning up the duck

Did you know that right in our backyard is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America? Over 50 species of freshwater mussels, and 151 fish species reside in this precious water...

read more
Portrait of a Champion

Portrait of a Champion

LAST DECEMBER, the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA) Awards Banquet highlighted the unveiling of Justified Honors’ official portrait by photographer Shane...

read more
Bedford County lights up with shining stars.

Juneteenth

“FREEDOM” enters the chatroom, and immediately it’s all, barbecued meat and who’s got the biggest bang of a firework show. While Independence Day is our nation’s designated time to pause and...

read more
Finding family

Finding family

HER HANDS were full, and her life was overwhelming. Jane Wagnar Feist and her four young children carried on as best they could while her husband, Herbert Feist, served in the United States Marine...

read more
Treat Yourself to Wellness

Treat Yourself to Wellness

You're invited to a day, two if you choose, of indulgence. Escape life's stresses and treat yourself to rest and renewal. Bell Buckle's Kingdom Acres is holding your spot. What ails you? Joints and...

read more
Kay Bartley

Kay Bartley

A VOLUNTEER IN all of life’s seasons, Shelbyville’s Kay Bartley has lived a life of service. From her early days of marriage to the present, Bartley has covered a lot of ground. She has sown many...

read more
Honey & Haley

Honey & Haley

HONEY AND Haley were ready on the starting line at a horse race in Kentucky. She was surrounded on her left and right by racers in her young adult age bracket. One racer after the other looked...

read more