You might remember my post from a few days ago? If not, quick summary: I was given $50 through Elmers' and Collective Bias to purchase school supplies at Walmart to create gift bags for kids in need.
Though I'll admit I'm out of the loop when it comes to what kids need in school supplies now-a-days (I remember it being pencils, glue, a pencil case, paper and cool Strawberry Shortcake folders), Walmart made it easy with photocopies of what kids need depending on their grade level. And this was right in the Back to School section, which was quite convenient.
I ended up spending close to $100 on 3 bags + some Elmers' glue sticks to donate to the art museum that I work at.
We work with so many kids and with budget crunches hitting museums and cultural institutions pretty hard, this is a small way to contribute to a place that I enjoy working for. Plus the glue sticks were only $.25 for a pack of 2. I ended up buying 120, so you do the math.
Once I got home, I unloaded the stash directly onto the laundry room floor, which incidentally was clean save for some sand from the sandbox.
And the next morning, my helper started sorting supplies into the three bags.
Here's what we got, and I'm hoping that this is what kids usually need.
Pencils, ruler, pencil case, glue sticks, Elmers' School Glue, scissors, lined paper, compostion book, folders, spiral notebooks, index cards, highlighters, hand sanitizer, crayons, colored pencils, markers, pencil sharpener, mechanical pencils. Whew! I may be forgetting something from the receipt.
I considered getting backpacks or lunch bags, but it was hard to choose, and my store actually did not have a lot of choices--mostly just plain. I wasn't sure if I should go with black since it's a neutral color, or go with red or green. So I ended up just buying lots of supplies and hoping that the kids had backpacks that they could use.
My helper and I packed the bags
then I added a little handmade gift tag on them using some scrap booking paper. I thought it added a personal touch.
The inside sentiment reads: "May this school year be filled with new discoveries and happy memories"-- from someone who believes in you.
(come to think of it, I shouldn't have written "new" since that's a little redundant alongside "discoveries"...oops)
I tied the tag on, and now the bags are ready to be dropped off at a local hospital as part of their program for donating backpacks and school supplies to kids.So what do you think? Should I have gotten the backpacks? Did I miss an essential item in these bags?
If you're interested in checking in on my shopping trip, give it a Whrrl!
I think you did great! What an awesome project to include your kiddos in!
ReplyDeleteI get to do a Bag It Forward shopping trip, too, and I am so excited for the opportunity!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome that you get to participate in this! Wow! I've never heard of this program, maybe it's only in the USA (I'm in Canada).
ReplyDeleteOh, I miss school supply shopping from when I was a kid. I can't wait for my kids to be in school - to school supply shop again! (My oldest is only 3 and a half, so still 2 more school years before he even starts).
Your kits rock. You did a good job mama!
That's awesome!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you covered the bases...what a wonderful blessing! :)
I think you did great! What a great way to help out and teach your son a lesson about giving and sharing with others.
ReplyDeleteThe hospital might already have backpacks to give to the kids. Or they might give your goody bags to kids that already have backpacks that they can use from last year. They can always use the tote bag.
That is a wonderful project! This makes me so happy to see. Many years ago, I would have been that child , that needed this kind of help.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Oh and your helper is most adorable!
ReplyDeleteI think it was a kind thing for you to do, especially with the added handmade touch.
ReplyDelete