Schools across the country are feeling the pinch of budget cuts and are scrimping along as it is. Many schools go without vital school supplies and many teachers end up supplementing and ones in low income areas are really struggling. I’ve found that by watching for Back to School sales at local stores, I’m able to purchase school supplies inexpensively or sometimes even get them for free. Without a child in school I love to go and do the shopping and then donate them to some of the following great organizations.
1) Operation Christmas Child. This is a place that my husband and I have worked with for years by packing boxes. In fact last year I put together this video to show how we packed 45 boxes for $45. It’s easy, fun and you can do it with the kids. Tim and I spent 3 years in Thailand as missionaries and seeing the poverty some children live in is shocking and heartbreaking. Although these boxes won’t fix everything, it really helps.
2) Boys & Clubs of America . In every community, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.
3) Local Schools are always in need. Find one HERE and then simply make a call and ask if they could use supplies and how you could drop them off.
4) Adopt a Classroom By adopting a classroom, donors form partnerships with specific classrooms providing financial and moral support. The result is a meaningful contribution to education in which donors experience the impact of their efforts and celebrate in a classroom’s success.
5) Donors Choose. Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests here. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class. Then, you can browse project requests and give any amount to the one that inspires you. Once a project reaches its funding goal, they deliver the materials to the school.
6) Do Something 101 is a national school supply drive where Staples is encouraging teens to host their own school supply drive and drop off collected school supplies to donation bins at Staples. The donated supplies will then be distributed to a local charity that has been matched to that particular Staples store. You can go to Do Something 101 for ideas on how to run local school supply drives and to sign up for an action kit.
7) Operation Backpack.Volunteers of America’s Operation Backpack provides school supplies and backpacks to children in need across the country.
8) Local Churches. Keep an eye out for those doing drives themselves and giving to the local community.
