Blessing Box outside Sioux Falls antique shop offers free food 24 hours a day, no questions asked

The harshness of what is supposed to be a joyous holiday season hits home for Marie Murfin and Steve Whitman.

Murfin once was homeless in her teens, and felt embarrassed to have to sign papers, submit for cash claims or stand in line at a food bank just to feed herself.

“In that situation, it’s embarrassing and it’s kind of hard asking for help,” Murfin said, noting that many people will avoid it all.

Years later, she recovered. But then, bankruptcy hit her and her husband and business partner Steve Whitman. The family later experienced money issues while opening their second business — Booth 202 — at the start of 2021 and had to throw most everything inside out and start over as a prior owner had left the building in some disrepair, they said.

Once they recovered and sifted through various financial services in the city, the two decided to pass their good fortune on via the easiest way they knew how — a "take what you need, leave what you can" food box outside their Booth 202 business at 1801 W. 12th St.

The box offers non-perishable food, gloves and whatever else fits in the 3-foot container that sits outside for anyone to peruse.

“It’s much easier to pick out what you want than go to a place and stand in line sometimes," Murfin said. "And it’s been a hard year still. For many... some just need a one-time visit to get by."

The Blessing Box empties and is restocked within the same timeframe every 24 hours, the owners said, with people flocking to drop off donations and late-night visitors often stopping by to pick up food. Booth 202 sees families and young singles visit the Blessing Box, which is adorned in holiday lighting and faces busy 12th Street traffic in Sioux Falls.

The need 'is great this year'

Feeding South Dakota has seen more demand for deliveries of food this year, too, at all of its stops.

“We’re seeing a 15 to 20% increase in the needs for our mobile distribution across Sioux Falls and our state, including Sioux Falls,” said Megan Kjose, the development director at Feeding South Dakota. "We’re increasing mobile distributions through the first of the year."

The Blessing Box operates on a much smaller scale, but Murfin and Whitman says it fulfills a growing need in the neighborhood.

“There's other means to get food, and they’re good. But ours, you know, is 24 hours a day. No questions asked. Grab what you need,” Whitman said. "It goes beyond Christmas need."

More: Sioux Falls Hy-Vee closure creates a food desert and strains area nonprofits, officials say

Many have visited the couple's antique shop to sell off prized family possessions or furniture just to pay their month’s bills, the couple said. Inspiration came for the box earlier this year, after Whitman posted that they offered expired food in their store for free on the popular Pay It Forward Facebook page.

“The response was overwhelming,” Whitman said. “And add to that Hy-Vee leaving, this neighborhood is a food desert. People can’t always drive to get food.”

A few blocks away from the antique store on Kiwanis Avenue, The Point is to Serve offers its own "Little Free Pantry" food box for people who need it.

At Booth 202, the feedback in the area has been mostly positive, but some have not been as kind.

“A couple people in the neighborhood expressed some negative feedback that we shouldn't be helping these people out because it’s enabling habits,” Whitman said. “We don’t really care. If someone’s hungry, they’re hungry.”

There are "perfectly good people" who work hard everyday and still can't afford food, he added, explaining that offering a box of food wouldn't lower neighborhood quality or enable others.

“The effect is emotional. You feel like, ‘Man, I can't eat and I'm hungry and I can’t focus on (anything else). Or your kids are sitting there hungry and you can't feed them. There's no reason for that,” Whitman said.

To keep the blessing going, the owners plan to keep the box open permanently and are asking for donations of non-perishables, non-glass items that will keep in the summer heat and winter cold.

Anyone who donates a can of food can take 10% off their purchase at the Booth 202 antique store through the end of 2021.

"If you give something you don’t need, that’s a blessing to anyone who can take it," Whitman said.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls food donation station offers free food to those in need