Man builds mini 'food bank' on front lawn for those in need

Local community steps in to provide food and toiletries

'With any luck, we'll have a few around town where people can be made aware of them and make use of them,' Mr Espinoza says (CNN)

A man has opened up a "Blessing Box" filled with food for anyone to take if they need it.

Roman Espinoza, from Watertown, New York, decided to build a miniature food cupboard stocked with donated items.

"Whether you're taking or giving, you can just go to the blessing box," Mr Espinoza told CNN.

"There's not a lock on it — it's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

He got the idea while taking a class on human services at a local community college, where he was shocked to learn the school had a food cupboard for needy students.

He said: "I thought, 'Man, these adults that are spending time taking classes can't eat every day. '"

Mr Espinoza then decided to put up his box, providing the first bits of food himself. He said he hasn't had to put much in since, as the local community has stepped in to help.

"The box itself is for the community and it's sustained by the community," he said.

"The community, the neighbourhood and my block have been really supportive."

Other than food, the box also contains toiletries such as toothpaste, soap and shampoo.

Now, others in the Watertown community have asked Mr Espinoza for their own boxes.

"I've gotten a couple of requests from people around town for boxes for their property," he said.

"With any luck, we'll have a few around town where people can be made aware of them and make use of them."

He added: "Watertown, New York, in the next five years, could be known as the city of blessing boxes."