By Eileen Wise
January 25, 2026
On a frigid day this week, an administrator at South Hills School of Business and Technology is working with her student to fill a large wooden box with supplies. The supplies range from socks, dish towels, toilet paper, and toothbrushes, to pencils, children’s books, and boxes of pasta.
A sign on “The Blessing Box,” states, “Take what you need and leave what you can,” and it is filling a need and creating good will among students and residents in the surrounding community. Created as a joint project between two CBICC members, the State College Kiwanis Club and the South Hills School, the Blessing Box was designed to serve anyone in need in the local community.
Barbara Chadick, Director of Student Services at South Hills School, suggested the idea to the State College Kiwanis President, Bill Frantz, as a project to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of this long-standing service club. Bill and club members enthusiastically agreed, and the club treasurer provided funds for the materials. Kiwanis member, John Everhart, designed and built the box to be large enough to hold sufficient supplies. Kiwanis member, Jeff Seamans, helped to securely install the Blessing Box next to the road on Waupelani Drive.
The Blessing Box is maintained by South Hills School, its student club (Future Business Leaders of America or FBLA), and the State College Kiwanis Club. “It’s all about giving back and helping,” Barb observed. She noted that a resident came up to her one day when she was restocking the Blessing Box and stated, “This has been a big help to me. I don’t know what I would do without it.” Barb also noticed a woman pull her car over to the box, and a child got out and contributed a toy. “So children are learning they can be helpers too,” Barb emphasized.
President Frantz states, “The State College Kiwanis Club welcomes anyone interested in learning more to come to our twice-a-month meeting at South Hills. We meet on the first and third Monday from 6 to 7 pm. We are looking for like-minded people who share our vision of making a positive impact on the world, one child and one community at a time.”