I was invited to a Chamber of Commerce meeting a few weeks ago and someone caught wind of what I do and write about. The woman pulled me aside and asked if I knew that we had 357 kids showing up on Monday at schools in our county who hadn't eaten all weekend. The reason the teachers know this is because those kids tend to act out on Monday mornings. Following up with them are counselors who get to the root of the problem. But the solution hasn't yet been found.

Since "social solutions" in communities is what I have a heart (and ear for) I remembered a guy, Scott Sullivan, who showed up at a speakers conference in Las Vegas two years ago. He was given a few minutes to tell how he'd discovered by accident that there were 5,000 kids who were often wandering the streets homeless or going hungry because of a bad home life fraught with drugs, joblessness, and abuse. Scott had moved from Louisiana after Katrina wiped out his home and the homes of his friends. He'd helped rescue 100's and relocated many of them. Being financially independent in his thirties, Scott had the freedom -- and big picture attitude and heart  - to look around, dig in and help others. After the Katrina rescue, he launched Caring4Kids Foundation and put together a project with the local churches and the school superintendent to begin feeding hungry kids. That was 2006 and so far the program feeds 650 kids every weekend throughout the city.

So, knowing how well Scott's program has gone, it's my turn. How can I know what I know about his program and not do something where I live? And, after all, isn't replicating solutions that work what I'm about anyway? So instead of being the journalistic observer, enjoying the interviews, creating a place for people to exchange ideas at NICENetwork.org, and enjoying the successes of others, it's time to put some of that "superior knowledge" to work. At least, I'm going to make a stab at it and see what we can make happen in Lake County Florida for these kids.  And, I'm also looking forward to a more in depth interview opportunity with Scott coming up in a couple of weeks.  To learn more about Scott's program go to: http://www.caring4kidsfoundation.org/.