CRYSTAL BEACH – A simple wooden box in the community of Crystal Beach is doing something quietly, but powerful.

About two weeks ago, local fishing captain and former firefighter Troy Beasley turned an idea into action by creating a “blessing box,” a small enclosure stocked with free food for anyone who needs it—no questions asked, no sign-ups required.

The idea, Beasley said, came from a conversation with Deputy Mac Sanford of the Galveston County Constable’s Office. Inspired by the concept, Beasley got to work building the enclosure himself and filling it for the first time last Saturday.

The blessing box is now located at 2124 Texas 87 in Crystal Beach, outside the Busta Lime Frozen Drink restaurant, where it is accessible to the public at any time.

For Beasley, the project is deeply personal.

He recalls struggling in the early 2000s, a time when asking for food assistance came with a heavy emotional cost. Walking into a pantry, he said, often felt embarrassing—an experience that stayed with him long after his circumstances improved.

“I wanted something where people could get help privately,” Beasley told KGTX 7, explaining that the blessing box removes the pressure and stigma that can come with traditional food assistance. “No one should feel humiliated for needing food.”

The concept is simple: take what you need, leave what you can. Inside the box are shelf-stable food items meant to help individuals and families bridge gaps during difficult times.

Beasley plans to restock the blessing box every two weeks, but the effort doesn’t rest on his shoulders alone. Members of the Crystal Beach community have already stepped forward, offering to help maintain and replenish the box when Beasley is unavailable.

What stands quietly along Highway 87 is more than a container of food. It’s a reflection of a community looking out for its own—led by someone who understands, firsthand, how much dignity matters when asking for help.

In Crystal Beach, help now comes without a line, a form, or a spotlight. Just a box, a door, and the understanding that sometimes, everyone needs a little grace.

_{Photo courtesy: Troy Beasley}