Paige Hundt with the first Battleford Blessing Box in 2024. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Alyssa Rudolph

North Battleford Blessing Box

Community-led Blessing Box expansion aims to help those in need

Mar 10, 2026 | 11:13 AM

The installation of a second Blessing Box in the Battlefords will help provide easy access to food and essentials for people in need.  

The first come and go donation box was set up in September 2024, in front of the Alex Dillabough Centre in the Town of Battleford. It allows residents to drop off items such as food, clothing, feminine hygiene products, and other goods. In turn, anyone in the community can take items they may need. 

Paige Hundt is the community member who brought the local initiative back, after the original box by Natalya Shevchuk was removed. Hunt closely monitors the box in Battleford and says it has had a huge impact on the community. 

“Usually, I will take a mental picture of what’s in there when I’m coming home from work, and maybe what’s in there the next morning. It’s clear that every time something has been removed and things have been added.” 

North Battleford City Council has now accepted the installation of a second Blessing Box that will be located in front of the city’s fire hall.  

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“The fire hall is a really great place for a lot of good reasons. It’s a well-lit public facility, There’s usually someone at the fire hall at any given day. It’s also a place that evokes this sense of security and safety,” said Hundt.  

The four foot by six foot, custom built medal cabinet will be placed and bolted into a thick concrete slab. Both this design and location is designed as a prevention of vandalism.  

“In the event that an act of vandalism does occur, the last thing I want is for the city to feel that they have to take care of it. In terms of any damages, that would be on me [to fix].” 

Landscaping and ground maintenance where the box will sit, will be monitored by the fire hall staff as part of the agreement between Hunt and Fire Chief Lindsay Holm.  

For Mayor Kelli Hawtin, this box brings an exciting opportunity and partnership to the community. 

“We had a Blessing Box in the past. In Library Park, it was much smaller, but it was a very appreciated resource in the community. It was a good way for people to give back, a good way for people to find items that they might need. So, I think this is going to be a good resource to bring back to the community,” she said. 

To help with the cost of installation, Hunt has received many local sponsors including Twin River Concrete, SK Arts, beePLUS, North Battlefords Lions Club, and BATC’s Community Development Corporation. 

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com