Alva Review-Courier -

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — When Donna Rae Pearson discovered the Blessing Boxes concept, she thought her central Topeka neighborhood, which lost a major grocery store last year, could benefit.

The small structures — similar in appearance to Little Free Libraries — house free nonperishable food and other items such as toiletries, laundry detergent and socks.

"It looked like a really good idea," Pearson said. "I live up the street from where the Dillons used to be, and to have it taken from the community was kind of devastating. I thought this is a nice, simple way of helping my community."

The Dillons...