The Back-To-School season is an exciting time of year at my house. Before the first day of school, I make sure my children’s backpacks are carefully packed with all the shiny new school supplies they need to get the school year off to a good start. I have always taken it for granted that we could just go out and buy the things on our school supplies list. I recently found out that more than 31 million students in the United States come from low income families who find it challenging to purchase school supplies.
We can help local students get the school supplies they need with the Elmer’s Bag It Forward Champions For Kids SIMPLE Service project. I was really excited for my family to have the opportunity to donate school supplies to our town’s elementary school teachers and children. Teachers spend an average of $356 out of their own pockets every school year on classroom supplies. Many spend up to $1500 to provide basic classroom supplies.
Just imagine the difference it could make for students across the nation if people joined together to support their local classrooms and schools. That is the mission of the Champions For Kids program! If you want to learn more about Ways You Can Help, check out the Champions For Kids Simple Service Project Flyer.
This simple service project was a great opportunity for me to teach my children about helping other kids. I explained to them that many families in our community are not able to afford to buy new school supplies and that we could help them by donating school supplies to their school. My oldest boys (ages 5 and 8) understood and were eager to buy supplies for students in need. They were happy that their job was to help me find the items on our shopping list and put them in the cart.
We headed to the store for our #BagItForward Shopping Trip and were immediately greeted by Walmart’s great low prices on tons of school supplies right in the entry way!
Have you noticed the Elmer’s School Supplies List Holders at your local Walmart? We found ours!
Our shopping list included lots and lots of Elmer’s Glue. We found really good prices on bulk packages of Elmer’s glue sticks and bought several of them.
My family did all of our Back To School supplies shopping at Walmart this year because they really do have the lowest prices and will even price match other stores. I love that Walmart is a one-stop shop for everything on our list. I was amazed at the number of items we were able to put into our cart during our #Champions4Kids shopping trip. I know our school will be thrilled, too!
Check out our entire Champions For Kids shopping trip in my #BagItForward Google+ Album and let me know how you think we did!
Keep up with the Champions For Kids program on Twitter: @Champions4Kids
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Kathy Murphy says
What a great message – and I love your happy little helpers. Someone will really be thankful for those supplies!
Nicole says
Thanks, Kathy! I was so glad to take part in this effort, it really was an all-around great experience.
Laura O in AK says
Your boys look like they had fun helping you shop at Wal-Mart.
Kristin Wheeler (MamaLuvsBooks) says
Nice job!! I love how you are getting your kids involved and teaching them at an early age how important helping others is to the community!!!