By Christa Parker
Some 25 years ago my husband and I took our first SCIF Bell Family Blue Bags to Africa. While he was busy packing his hunting gear, I was busy scouring the local stores for clothing, medical and school supplies. I was able to fill 6 Blue bags.
To see the joy on the faces of the children and staff alike at the local orphanage who received the bags is something I will never forget. Over the years we took many more Blue Bags to different parts of Africa.
Sadly, my husband has passed, and I now travel alone. I do not hunt but go to remote parts of the world to see places and animals that are on my “bucket list”. There are so many people all over the globe that are so much less fortunate than us. I wanted to do something, and it came to me that I could see no reason why I could not take Blue Bags when I went on a trip.
What better way to honor my husband’s memory and help those less fortunate? I just returned from the Amazon in Peru and was able to take two bags with me filled with supplies. These were delivered to several communities deep within the jungle with no access by road, only by water—and then only during high water season as the boats have a hard time getting to these remote outposts when the river and its tributaries get low or even dry up. This cuts the communities off from their life blood- The mighty Amazon! My only stipulation was that the bags went to remote communities not normally served by the tourist circuit. Around the main embarkation ports there are many trips by tourists to the communities which are along the river, so they benefit from many visitors. However, there remain thousands of people in areas never seen or reached by the tourist groups, so they gain no benefit. They are unable to sell their crafts and trinkets, which would give them extra income.
I encourage everyone who travels to different parts of the world less travelled by the hunting community, to think about donating their time and money and take a Blue Bag with them. It shouldn’t matter if we must pay extra for the bag. It is a weeks’ worth of fancy coffee and you can make someone’s life a little brighter!!
Contact me if you would like more information or have any questions: Christa Baker, [email protected], (570) 881-6155
