Nicolette McCarthy.

Jimmy Watson, Jenna Platto

Dr. Werner
EN 475 01
4 November 2019
Project Proposal
The issue that our group seeks to resolve is the trouble of marketing done on the Blessing
Bag Brigade’s YouTube channel. As for why we have picked the YouTube channel, this was per
request by the organization, as it seemed to be the main concern since there is a large need for
revamping and reorganizing the webpage. An approach that we would like to take in order to fix
this issue is creating videos that express the stories of those receiving the bags. According to
Najat Smeda’s article ​The Effectiveness of Digital Storytelling in the Classrooms: A
Comprehensive Study,​ “the power of storytelling as a pedagogical tool has been recognised since
the beginning of humanity, and in more recent times, for e-Learning. Digital storytelling has
become a modern incarnation of the traditional art of oral storytelling; it allows almost anyone to
use off-the-shelf hardware and software to weave personal stories with the help of still/moving
images, music and sound, combined with the author’s creativity and innovation” (2004). With
that being said, we feel as though this approach in creating our videos for the YouTube channel
will be effective in that it portrays meaningful stories in a very innovative and multimodal way
for all to see.
As stated before, our proposal is to create a form of marketing that involves expressing
the stories of those receiving the blessing bags, and why this whole concept means a lot to their
lives via the Blessing Bag Brigade YouTube channel. Getting more specific, we will be creating
around 3-4 videos, depending on the availability of those being interviewed. Within the video, it
will start with an introduction of who the person is, following with a brief story about themselves
and their current life situation. From there, the person being interviewed will then explain how
the Blessing Bag Brigade has impacted their lives, showing that the bags being provided means
more to them then one may first see. The following is a general list of how the video layout will
typically go about:
1. Video Introduction
2. Introduction of the person
3. The general interview (background information)
4. The Impact of the Blessing Bag Brigade
5. Closing statements
6. Ending of video
With our chosen proposal, we not only think that these types of videos will enhance the
YouTube channel as a whole and help viewers understand what the Blessing Bag Brigade does
as an organization, but also the overall impact it has on the homeless.
Campaign:
In order to measure the success of our project, we would like to have 20 subscribers to
the Youtube channel by December 8th. As a group we feel as though this is a reasonable number
and will ensure the success of the future of the Youtube channel that we are creating. As of now,
the Blessing Bag Brigade movement does not have a Youtube channel. Mr. Garrison has a
Youtube account, but it is his personal page so it does not express the work that he is doing as
well as an official YouTube account would. We would like to not only create a channel, but
make sure that we are spreading the word in order to not only gain subscribers, but supporters of
the movement. We would like to have three videos up by December 8th that show a promo
video, and two interview-based videos. In order to gain subscribers and supporters, we will post
on our own Instagrams and other forms of social media. The three of us will hopefully grab the
attention of enough people to reach our goal. In addition to posting on social media, we will also
be making fliers that we will email out to those who work with Mr. Garrison. We will do this to
keep them in the loop and hopefully get them to want to take part in the Youtube. The people
that work in the soup kitchens and make / hand out bags are the ones that work behind the scenes
and we would like to shed some light on their positions.

Timelines:

Timeline One: The Essential “Proposed Work to Solve the Problem:

Due Date Description of what is needed to be

done

November 4​th 1.​ P

​ roject Proposal

November 6​th 2.​ ​Podcast #2

3.​ ​Meeting at soup kitchen

November 11​th 1.​ ​Storyboards Due

2.​ ​Schedule meeting for
recording
November 13​th 1.​ ​Podcast #3
2.​ ​Promo video due

November 18​th 1.​ ​Campaign Update

Check-in
2.​ ​Video #2 due

November 20​th 1.​ ​Podcast #4

2.​ ​Final video

December 2​nd 1.​ ​Campaign Update

Check-in

December 9​th 1.​ C

​ ampaign Update Due

Timeline Two: What Will be Unique About the Campaign:

Due Date Description of what is needed to be

done

November 4​th 1.​ P

​ roject Proposal

November 6​th 1.​ ​Determine ways to market

the YouTube Channel
 November 11​th 1.​ ​Send out emails about
YouTube channel as well as
through social media

November 13​th 1.​ ​Promo video due

2.​ ​Check Subscriber
numbers

November 18​th 1.​ ​Email link and flyer for

upcoming video
2.​ ​Video #2 due
3.​ ​Check subscribers

November 20​th 1.​ ​Email link and flyer for

upcoming video
2.​ ​Final video

December 2​nd 1.​ ​Check subscribers as well

as the progression from first
video

December 9​th 1.​ C

​ ampaign Update Due

Conclusion:
The main problem that we have recognized within the media department of the Blessing
Bag Brigade is that there is not enough being done utilizing the YouTube Channel. At the
company’s request, we are going to create multiple videos outlining what influential work the
Blessing Bag Brigade does on a daily basis. In doing so, we will be highlighting the stories of
those receiving the bags in an effort to get more exposure on the internet so that these influential
stories can inspire others to help towards the cause. We have confidence that this will be
successful because it has been done for other non profit organizations and has produced great
results. A successful project to us is a creation of videos that not only inspire a wide audience,
but allow the Blessing Bag Brigade to continue to produce videos that help them get the message
of their company out there. Our goal is to bring a focus to the YouTube platform and lay the
groundwork for it to be a useful and strategic tool for the company in the months and years going
forward.
In closing, our group asks for any feedback you may have and whether or not you feel
that this is an appropriate course of action going forward. We are open to any and all
recommendations/requests. We hope that this can be a fluid process and one that is beneficial not
only to you and your company, but to the broader public and all of those affected by
homelessness in the New Jersey and New York areas in which you serve.