Share To Make Aware

That seems to be the recurrent theme here lately, what with all of this "Box Tops Against Bullying" stuff going on. Now it appears we've managed to morph into something that to this point had been unimaginable: a foundation against bullying, with an emphasis on special needs children. But that's for another blog entry, another day.

So, what does it all mean? You see me preach it, nearly daily, certainly ad nauseam...but why? Why am I so persistent, so insistent, that people pay attention, and act? It's simple on two counts: 1) Because I don't ever want to receive another message telling me that a child had chosen to 'give up', when I could have done more. It's happened. And 2) Because it's so simple in its fundamental practice. Clip (or tear) a 'Box Tops For Education' box top off a product (I've previously provided the link to their web address) and drop it off to a friend who might already be participating, or a collection site, currently locally in Gainesville, Florida, or invest in a stamp and put it in the mail. You all have the address; use it. 1, 2, 5, 50, 500... It doesn't matter, because it does matter. Every single one, matters. It allows us to say to the teenager who's had enough, that 'we've got your back'. It allows a young boy, or girl, with any type of developmental, or neurological impairment to interact with their peers without being singled out, or picked on because they are different, because they know we won't allow it. Different is beautiful; different deserves to be celebrated.

I went to school with a lot of friends, who attend a lot of churches, which have a lot of youth groups, which have a lot of teenagers, who eat a LOT of food. We all do. We all have families and friends who gather, just to be together; and we eat. Make them earn it. Charge them General (Mills) admission to attend your buffet. Why not? You can do it. We can do it. We are doing it, but this is only the beginning. Great things are on the horizon, and the box tops will always remain a cornerstone in our mission. Why? Because everyone can take part, and both the children and the schools can benefit. This isn't merely about an 11-year-old boy coming to me baring his demons. That would be masking a symptom instead of curing the disease. This is about children suffering; children that can't otherwise defend themselves against the aggression of others and need someone to reach out, and help. It could be your child next. It has been mine.

I promised you I would beg, borrow and steal, (figuratively speaking, those of you in law enforcement) and I have done so. And I will continue to do so, until there is no longer a need for me to run a foundation, or clip box tops for this purpose, because people have woken up, have made a conscious choice to live by the Golden Rule, instead of turning it into some sort of therapeutic mouthpiece, to ease a guilty conscience. We know the problem exists and shake our heads in mourning, almost nightly, listening to another talking head tell us about some poor child, in our communities who decided it just wasn't worth it anymore. It's time to stop shaking our heads and start shaking trees. Confront the problems where they exist, instead of standing by idly as another invaluable member of the human race is cast aside. 

I've given you the vehicle; use it to support Makenley, your child, your neighbor's child, all of the children. But, please take your heads out of the sand, please internalize the problem; make it personal. Please take action, and...

...share to make aware.

Scott

Makenley Deuschle
C/O Robey Elementary
8700 W. 30th St.
Indianapolis, In. 46234