With coronavirus cases spiking and the economy still lagging, many more families along the Route 1 corridor are in need this holiday season.

Some young members of the University Christian Church got together recently to add another way to help: a “Blessing Box” where people can drop off or pick up food.

Located on the north end of the church property at 6800 Adelphi Road in Hyattsville, the large wood and glass structure has shelves where canned goods, pasta and other non-perishables can be left for families in need.

Rev. Nathan Hill said donations in the box are “open to any neighbor in need” and they can “just swing by and pick it up.”

A similar Blessing Box, modeled after the Little Free Libraries where Route 1 corridor residents pick up and drop off books, opened in 2018 outside near St. Jerome Catholic Church and Hyattsville Elementary.

The Girl Scouts who built that box said they hoped it would help people who might be too embarrassed to go to a regular pantry.

As we noted recently, another way to help is by making donations to the St. Mark’s Food Pantry, which is serving five times as many families as usual right now. You can donate online here.