By Armando Gutierrez
In the vibrant communities of Africa, there are bright beacons of light shining the path for one of the most important causes of life, educational growth. These come to form in the color blue, the Humanitarian efforts of the SCIF Bell Family Blue Bag Program.
These bags are filled with a hunter’s compassion in the way of school supplies like pencils, notebooks, textbooks, colors, coloring books and necessity items such as band aids, ointments, itch creams, shampoos, conditioners, toothpastes, toothbrushes, shower gels, deodorants, aspirins, pens, socks, slippers while also including recreational needs like soccer balls, balloons, candies, hats, playing cards, ball pumps, backpacks.
These bags might weigh heavy with supplies but weigh heavier with hope for children in these underserved schools such as the Otavi Namibia state boarding school recently visited by SCI Member Doug Saner and his family from March 8-20th 2025. These trips for the Saner family, as with many other SCI hunters, are at least an annual occurrence. This school has children ranging from ages 5-18 years old. But these supplies also assist any adults helping the school and the instructor as well. This gives the children a tangible reminder that their education matters to someone.
The experience of a SCIF Bell Family Blue Bag journey is an enlightening experience and joy for all involved. The empowerment of these young learners equips them with tools for the future, to hunt for their dreams and break the cycle of poverty. The future of promise, lit by a hunter’s compassion, can nurture future doctors, innovators and leaders and unlock a future without borders and boundaries.
We appreciate and applaud our SCI members who participate in the SCIF Bell Family Blue Bag Program as they navigate logistics, underdeveloped terrain, coordinating with the schools, and their hunting counterpart, which can all complicate their journey. Steadfast, they maintain their sites on the end result of helping others. Our SCIF Blue Family Blue Bag Program is growing leaps and bounds, as this call to action can use every hunter’s compassion that is willing.
If you’d like to go on your own SCIF Bell Family Blue Bag journey, and showcase your hunter’s compassion, reach out to Armando Gutierrez at [email protected] or call/text 210-512-4967.
