Kaufman Realty’s blessing box provides support

Kaufman Realty & Auction has not yet built a structure on its new Millersburg property that can house all of its employees, but the property on the corner of East Jackson and South Crawford Street does have a new structure on it that does serve a true purpose.

Before coronavirus was ever a threat, Anthony Kaufman of Kaufman Realty & Auction had the idea of posting a blessing box on the company’s vacant lot in Millersburg. On Wednesday, March 19, the Kaufman Realty employees at the Millersburg office took time to dig post holes and place the large blessing box on the corner at the bottom of the hill entering town from the east.

The idea of a blessing box is exactly what it sounds like. When someone is in need, they may take what they like from the box. When someone has an abundance, they can leave items in the blessing box for others to use. The concept is basically blessing others who are in need.

Kaufman saw a box elsewhere and felt that it would be ideal to put one on their empty lot the company purchased last year. Eventually Kaufman Realty will build a new home for their Millersburg operation on the site, but even when that happens, the hope is that the blessing box will continue to be a useful project for the community.

On March 19, Kaufman Realty members Dan Miller, Austin Miller and Tim Miller were on site to erect the blessing box, which was built by local woodworker Joe Yoder. The other team member, Nolan Mackey, was visiting a property, or he would have been there too.

“Right now, we aren’t doing anything with the lot, so it was a perfect time to put up the blessing box,” Dan Miller said. “That it coincided with the great need there is right now with the coronavirus makes it even more of a blessing.”

The box, housed on posts, is available for anyone who wants to provide a blessing to others to place nonperishable items like canned goods, detergent, boxed foods, peanut butter, cleaning supplies and anything else families might use on a daily basis.

“We want to fill this with nonperishable items and hopefully we can keep it full so that it can be a blessing for those in need,” said Dan Miller. “For those people who have been blessed, if they can pick up a couple of extra items while they are at the grocery store and place them here, it might really be a help to those who are struggling.”

The staff members of Kaufman Realty stocked the blessing box and Dan Miller said they will continue to keep an eye on the box to make sure it is stocked with nonperishable goods.

“The Kaufman family has always made community involvement a priority and this was one way that Anthony felt we could help make a difference,” Tim Miller said as he dug the four post holes that now house the blessing box.

In a time when people will take every blessing they can find, the blessing box should serve a great purpose and as it is stocked and restocked, it will also stand as a testament as to the kindness that people can share in the worst or best of times.