Gotta Love This Boy

By Lynn Difley

Just when you think it is getting all too bleak; another dealership closing, another friend undergoing foreclosure, still one more good program terminated for lack of funding, a ray of hope surfaces to remind us that we will survive this and it will all improve with time.
I found just such a ray of hope I want to share. It is the project of Zach Bonner, an 11-year-old boy who has decided he wants to draw attention to the plight of homeless children. Zach has already walked from Tampa to Tallahassee, and from Tallahassee to Atlanta to draw attention to the fact that 13 children per day die due to homelessness.
His goal on this trip is to go all the way from Atlanta to Washington DC. The trip is a journey of 665 miles. He plans to walk 11 miles a day for a total of over 600 miles, and figures it will take him two months. His mother will drive an RV, donated by Lazy Daze. He is asking kids to send letters, which he will hand deliver to President Obama, documenting the concern of other kids for the plight of the children who are suffering through no fault of their own.
What a great project and kudos to Lazy Daze for donating their RV as his support vehicle. He is asking for letters to take to the president, and donations for the homeless project for kids. He invites everyone to join him along the way. You can go to his website and track his progress. If you are traveling anywhere along his path, make it a point to look for him. If you stay in a campground along his travel route, why not urge them to donate his overnight stay, or better yet, pay for it yourself. If you go anywhere near his hike, you can bring him a bag of cookies, or home cooked meal.
Why not participate in this fantastic project that an 11-year-old boy has undertaken. It’s not his first act of generosity either. He gained notoriety at the age of 7 when he pulled his little red wagon around the neighborhood collecting bottled water and food for the victims of hurricane Charlie. He ended up shipping over 27 pickup loads of needed supplies to the victims.
Then he participated in collecting and stocking snack and personal hygiene backpacks for kids in need. Now he has started on a journey, walking to bring attention and help to the kids who are less fortunate, as he says “through no fault of their own”. He was inspired by Mildred Norman, the peace pilgrim who criss-crossed the country for peace for over 28 years.
Zach will spend his summer walking, mom and sister supporting him and hopefully a large crowd of supporters will join in for a segment across the way. What a fantastic project, and one we can all follow with enthusiasm, as we travel across the country. If you are on the road, why not look for Zach, check out his website or pass the word to friends who may be in his line of travel.
Check his website Little Red Wagon Foundation to see all about Zach and his work. They have a link you can click to track his walk. Whether you find Zach or just support him by sending a contribution or a letter or E mail, you are participating in a project that offers a positive ray of hope in an otherwise bleak time. Why not let Zach know those of us who frequent the open road are all with him. Send him a message of encouragement, a letter to carry, contribute to his project and help him along his way.