Roy Exum: 40 Questions About ‘Blue Bags’

  • Thursday, August 25, 2016
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

No. 1 – Did you know that one in every five of the 42,000 children in the Hamilton County school district is what the experts call “food deprived?”

No. 2 – Can you get your arms around the fact that a huge percentage of those 8,400 children get little, if nothing, to eat from Friday at lunch until they return to our schools on Monday?

No. 3 -- Did you know that you – just you alone – can do something about that?

No. 4 – Are you aware that if we hold our mouths right and pray in earnest, Hamilton County could almost immediately be among the top places in the United States where we allow no hungry child to slip through the cracks, this evidenced by our marvelous philanthropy and our love for one other?

No. 5 – After Justin Robertson, who at the time was principal at Red Bank High, remarked one Sunday morning in church two years ago that there were kids at his school who had no choice but to go without food on the weekends, does it matter that there was a head-strong woman who was listening and decided to do something about it?

No. 6 – Did you know that woman was his mother, Janice, the great Realtor?

No. 7 – Have you heard of the “Snack Pack” program – a seat-of-the-pants effort – that was born at East Brainerd Church of Christ where a bunch of “blue bags,” each carrying 10 food items, was made available to the school principal and guidance counselors to give at their discretion?

No. 8 – The church was so thrilled by the stewardship that $12,000 is now included in the Deacon’s Budget yet did you know there are no salaries paid?

No. 9 -- Do you know of a group of officer workers, or a nursing staff, or a softball team, or square-dance club, or neighborhood supper club, that could volunteer one night a month (2-to-3 hours) to help stuff the “blue bags?”

No. 10 – Can you grasp the fact that in just two years the “Snack Pack” idea has been so successful it has silently crept into Brown Middle, Hunter Middle, Apison Elementary, East Brainerd Elementary, Harrison Elementary, Wolftever Elementary, CSLA, Girls Leadership Academy, and Eastside Elementary from its humble start at Red Bank?

No. 11 – What would your company do if its leadership learned that three other schools were turned down this school year due to lack of funds? ($1,000 buys 500 fully-stuffed “blue bags”)

No. 12 – Did you know that just last night, as the new school year begins, volunteers packed 2,250 “blue bags” (4-week supply) with 22,500 food items at the East Brainerd Church of Christ?

No. 13 – You do realize, of course, that childhood hunger is non-denominational, right, and that other churches can gladly join in the “blue bag” offering?

No. 14 – Can you imagine a first-grader – already hungry again -- with a “blue bag” trying to figure out by herself how to “budget” her 10 pieces of food so it will last through Sunday night?

No. 15 – Can you imagine the decision a child must make when his other brothers and sisters are also hungry and have no “blue bag?”

No. 16 – Do you think some adults might steal the “blue bags” to sell so they can buy beer, dope, or reefer?

No. 17 – Who would have ever thought as many poor kids would immediately hide their “blue bags” because they are stolen by the others where they sleep?

No. 18 – Did you know each child gets a new toothbrush in the “blue bag” twice a year, and that there is room for a bar of soap, a piece of candy, and other things we take for granted if only they could find sources?

No. 19 – How do you feel about a Christmas edition “blue bag” that may include a book, a toy, or another gift?

No. 20 – Do you know anyone in the food business who might donate items that aren’t easily perishable to the “blue bag” program through the Chattanooga Food Bank? Just think of what we could put in those bags!

No. 21 – Would you believe it if I told you some of the very top teachers in Chattanooga say it is really hard to teach a hungry child?

No. 22 – How about if I said that once these kids eat on Monday, the rest of the day is wild due to the “sugar high” that comes after intense hunger?

No. 23 – Do you realize if you helped pack “blue bags” once a month, the cost of giving yourself towards the betterment of a child is virtually nothing, outside the gas for your car?

No. 24 – Do you know any retired men and women who could deliver “blue bags” to the schools, pick up donations from donors, write thank-you notes for gifts the program receives, or other stuff like that?

No. 25 – In your lifetime, can you remember the name of anyone who can write very valid grant requests to present to philanthropic foundations on the behalf of “blue bag” kids?

No. 26 – If, after just two years, the “blue bag” program has gone from Red Bank High to 10 schools, how long do you think it will be before Chattanoogans can handle all 79 schools in the district?

No. 27 – Do you know of any church, civic group, or collection of citizens who could start a North Georgia branch of the “blue bag” group? Janice will gladly share all she knows.

No. 28 – How about a crowd in Alabama that could copy what is being done in Chattanooga because they have hungry kids on weekends, too?

No. 29 – Is there someone smart and savvy and with a heart bigger than the Chickamauga Dam who can figure an easy and simple way to feed these kids in the summer?

No. 30 –This is off the subject but then again it is not – why don’t we institute year-round school for our struggling iZone schools so we can feed the students as they develop reading skills?

No. 31 – Do you think you might meet a lot of really fun people who you will like a lot while stuffing the “blue bags” together once a month? The average age of a stuffer is somewhere between 3 and 87 (so far.)

No. 32 – Did you know last night was the biggest “blue bag” stuffing ever because they added three new schools this fall, and that as more schools are added more stuffing nights can be added because there will be more stuffers?

No. 33 – Did you know you can call Janice Robertson at 423/595-1093 to become part of the “blue bag” crowd?

No. 34 – The bags are blue on purpose; that’s because they are opaque and other kids can’t see what’s in them because who wants to explain why they are hungry and don’t get fed and all of that stuff?

No. 35 – What? Haven’t you called Janice Robertson at 423/595-1093? (Due to the anticipated response, please leave your name and number.)

No. 36 – You do realize that if you send Janice an email that includes your name and number, it would greatly diminish the chance of your message being lost? janicerobertsonhomes@gmail.com

No. 37 – If you are easily frustrated or seek instant gratification, it would seem you can also call the East Brainerd Church of Christ (423/892-1389) for more information, if you haven’t already thought of that?

No. 38 – With a mom like Janice and a dad like the post office czar (Johnny), do you think even a dummy can figure why Justin is now a top-shelf figure in the Department of Education?

No. 39 – Have you got a friend, even a “main squeeze,” you can bring with you to stuff “blue bags?” If you bring six or more fraternity brothers you can go somewhere for beers afterwards.

No. 40 – Do you know that if you said “yes” to any of the above 39 questions, you are fully and totally qualified to help in the life of a hungry child?

royexum@aol.com

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