Newspaper Boxes Upcycled Into Community Treasures

In an innovative initiative, Corning native and author Ryan Carter is repurposing retired newspaper boxes to enrich communities across Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri.

These boxes are being distributed to the Doniphan-Ripley County Library, local artists, the Poplar Bluff chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Current River Heritage Museum, and other local museums.

The goal is to transform these boxes into little lending libraries and community engagement.

Carter’s vision is about creating a network of shared ideas and inspiration. He has requested that once these projects are operational, they be photographed and shared as models for other communities to emulate.

In Doniphan, the DAR has unique plans to honor history and patriotism for two of the newspaper boxes. They will serve as repositories for American flags, which will be stored for future flag-retiring ceremonies.

This initiative aligns with the DAR’s mission to promote patriotism and preserve American history.

Docent Ted Trader of the Bloomfield Stars and Stripes Museum was a recipient of one of the boxes.

CRHM curator Julie Braschler said, "Additionally, these boxes will house patriotic and historical children’s books, marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of America."