Isn’t it sad that in today’s day and age, with all the conveniences we have, some local residents are going hungry? What’s even more tragic to me is the thought that a child is going to bed hungry.

We all get tired of lectures about what we should do to help our fellow man. I’m not the type to lecture on ideals. It’s a personal choice and my personal choice is to put the power of the Daily Bee, along with a great partnership with the Bonner Community Food Bank, to the test and make sure nobody in our county goes hungry through the holiday season. And while we are at it, we are going to push the Toys for Tots campaign because every kid deserves to get something at Christmas.

So here’s the deal in the form of a challenge. The Daily Bee is challenging all local businesses to be collection points or donors to the program. We will keep running weekly totals in an ad several times per week. Weights will be provided by the food bank just to keep us all honest.

We will also run a total in terms of dollars, as a thermometer on the front page. The food bank has a formula they use to convert pounds to dollars.

If there are specific challenges you would like mentioned in the pages of the Bee, email them to me and we will play them up.

I’ve never been one to make modest goals. A goal should be a stretch so here we go. Of course, we can change the goal later if it is too easily achieved.

We, at the Bee, think the goal should be $200,000 in donations by Nov. 18 and $250,000 by Dec. 21. Food poundage can be converted to dollars.

Here are a few ideas:

• Each school could challenge the other schools.

• Banks could challenge banks.

• The Bee could challenge Keokee Publishing and the Reader.

• Realty offices could challenge other realty offices.

• Grocery stores could challenge other grocery stores.

• Hair salons could challenge hair salons.

• Medical clinics could challenge other medical clinics.

• Restaurants can challenge other restaurants.

• Car dealers can challenge other car dealers.

• Republicans can challengeDemocrats.

Those with the most money raised (Also in terms of food tonnage) will be highlighted in the Bee.

When a challenge is issued, send it directly to me so we can make sure everyone knows.

But this isn’t as much about recognition as it is making sure we all feel fat, dumb, and happy for the holidays. Nobody should go to bed hungry!

Don’t be the business that regrets not having participated on Dec. 19.

Here are a few details

If you wish to challenge another business — send an email to jmckiernan@bonnercountydailybee.com

If you need food picked up and weighed — send an email to jmckiernan@bonnercountydailybee.com

If you have incriminating pictures of another business — send an email to jmckiernan@bonnercountydailybee.com

If you need a sign for your window as a collection point — send an email to jmckiernan@bonnercountydailybee.com

The food bank has promised to keep tallies for us.

At a time when so many things seem complicated — elections, healthcare, political correctness, school levies, and lake levels...we can simplify by helping our neighbors.