Back to school time is one of my favorite times of the year. I love to go shopping for back to school supplies. There’s just something about crisp, blank sheets of lined paper and crayons that are shiny, new and unbroken. It’s a fresh start and time for new beginnings and something about that just makes me happy.
I know that it’s not always a time that makes everyone happy. School supplies can be expensive and it seems like the lists grow bigger each year of the supplies we need to send in. I know this can be really stressful for parents who are struggling to come up with money for all these supplies especially in today’s economy.
Help Elmer’s Help Kids in Need!
Millions of kids go without school supplies every year. Elmer’s is partnering with the Kids In Need Foundation to provide essential school supplies to students who need them the most. For every “like” on the Elmer’s Facebook page through Sept. 1, the company will donate one Elmer’s product. Plus, they will make an additional donation for every unique view the video receives on the Elmer’s Kids In Need tab. Please like the Elmer’s Facebook page, watch the video, and share it with your friends and family. With just one click, you will help a child in need! *Elmer’s will donate up to 200,000 products for this promotion to the Kids In Need Foundation.
With the help of Elmer’s, I decided to buy some school supplies to donate to our local elementary school. We have several needy families in our town but I don’t know them well enough to knock on their door and offer help. Our elementary school will hand out the supplies to the kids who need them most and that way no one’s privacy is invaded. I headed to Walmart to see what they had available for school supplies and I was really shocked by the prices and how reasonable they were. It’s been years since I had to buy supplies like crayons and glue but they were still very affordable. Walmart had a huge selection to choose from that included both off brand and name brand items. I chose the name brand items because I’ve found that some off brand school supplies just don’t stand up to the use that kids give them.
I picked up a variety of school supplies including folders, notebooks, binders, crayons, composition notebooks, colored pencils, Elmer’s school glue, Elmer’s disappearing purple school glue sticks, and Elmer’s pencil pouch. There was really quite a lot to choose from and not knowing exactly what the child would need, I tried to put in a variety of different types of school supplies. I know that the school will offer them where the need is seen the most.
Then I wandered over to the backpack section so I’d have something to put all the supplies in. When my kids were little, we didn’t have the money to get the character backpacks so we went with the plain backpacks instead. They worked just fine but I know they always wanted something special. I decided to buy a Hello Kitty back pack and a Cars back pack so there would be one *boy* and one *girl* appropriate backpack. They had so many cute character backpacks to choose from that it was difficult to make a choice. I am a HUGE Hello Kitty fan so this was an obvious choice. I know that whatever child the school chooses will enjoy having these bags.
Once I got home I put all the supplies in the bags to deliver to the school.
I cannot take pictures inside of the school for privacy/security reasons but they are very happy to receive any donations and it really made me feel good to help make a difference.
You can participate in Bag It Forward too! Just purchase school supplies for a local charity and upload photos of the items you Bagged Forward on http://www.bagitforward.org.
Check out my This Moment for the entire process!
About Ellen Christian
My name is Ellen Christian and I'm a busy mom of two teenagers who manages two blogs: 
I LOVE the backpacks you put together! The kids are going to be so excited to get them. Great job!
This is such a fantastic cause. I enjoyed shopping for my nephew and I sent school supplies to Joplin too. Great job
How fantastic!! I love the backpacks and all the supplies you put together~ so great!
What a great way to help out kids!
What a wonderful cause.. I liked their Facebook page
What an amazing idea! I'm a teacher in London and kids do not have to buy school supplies here, but I remember it fondly when I was in school. Which pencil case to choose, which lunch box, great times!
This time of year you can get amazing deals!
I think I may have my parents take money out my American bank acct. and go on a shopping spree for me.
What a wonderful cause–anything that can make children's lives easier so they can get a quality education is #1 to me! Thanks for sharing.
Those bags look SUPER fun!I love that you had a boy/girl theme – I am sure the kids will LOVE LOVE to get those!
I love that you put backpacks together! What a great way to truly Bag it Forward.
wow! you got a lot! Great job!!
How cute! I love them! School supply shopping was always a lot of fun for me and sometimes I do this same thing. I think I need to do it again this year!
This is wonderful! Thanks for sharing it and I'm so glad to know it's happening!
I love this! I seen another blogger doing this too and it's really touching, the kids are going to love them
Love this and just liked their Facebook page too. Great job!
I love love love this idea as I am so involved in helping people especially those who are in need. This would be a fantastic thing to do in my neighborhood. Thanks for the Idea
Jamie Brigham
cinderella10383 @ aol dot com
I am already entered to win some school supplies to giveaway if I win as my 14 month old isn't in school yet and those supplies would come in handy
Love this and just liked their Facebook page too. Great job!
Great back pack for a great cause! We're throwing a party for back to school and handing out supplies under the guise of door prizes as well as giving to a local foundation for military children.
What a great cause!! Such cute backpacks too I'm sure the kiddos will love them!!
I love Elmers glue. They are always giving back. LOVED the backpacks. Great Job!!!
Great post! I love how companies like Elmers make it so simple to help out, so I went & liked their fb page.
Aww, what a cute backpack! (I love Hello Kitty too!) Love Bag-It-Forward!
what a good cause
How fun!
What a great way to help out families in need. The school supply list gets longer and more expensive each year and every bit helps.
What a great cause. You did a nice job. Even though we homeschool now and it might seem a little incongruous, I still donate supplies, and time to the schools. this year the boys will be reading to the K and 1st graders, and doing other classroom helper work.
-Catherine
This reminds me that I have to figure out where I put my kid's school supply lists and get their stuff soon!
I agree! What a great cause and glad to read that companies like Elmer's glue are involved. Those are cool backpacks and supplies that you put together. Thanks for stopping by my blog too! I am your newest follower!
This is so great! I love the backpacks that you have put together! I also shared on twitter and facebook!
-Jennifer, Jennifer's Deals
This is wonderful Ellen. I am amazed at the generosity of others in the blogging community and we are joining you in this cause. SHARING EVERYWHERE AS WELL>