school

I go on “news fasts” from time to time.  In fact, I have been on one now for about 2 weeks.  Other than listening to a little NPR in the morning while I lay in bed waking up, I am avoiding everything from HuffPo to the Journal-Sentinel to ABC Nightly news, and everything in between.

I cannot begin to fix any of these problems.

In fact, in such situations, one realizes just how little power one actually has….

The way I see it, I have a very small handful of things that I can control, influence, and effect.

I control my own behavior.  Like how I didn’t gesture obscenely to the motorcycle driver who cut me off no less than 3 times on my way to Wal-Mart this morning.

I influence [and hopefully, shape!] my children’s morals and work habits.  While this is exhausting (quite frankly, I am so burned out it’s not even funny…), the show still goes on.

I can set an example that I can be proud to show others.  I can be fair, respectful, helpful, generous, and humble (even when I want to be anything BUT).

Thanks to the Elmer’s company/products, the last one is easy peasy!

Bag-it-Forward:  What It Is

Do you remember how excited you were as a kid to go shopping for school supplies?

[I’ve always had a school supply/office supply, uh, thing. I truly believe one can NOT have too many paperclips or sticky notes. Honestly, I think my obsession with things like Elmer’s glue, tape, ball point pens, and brand new boxes of crayons and colored pencils is second ONLY to my social media addiction.]

When, even if you weren’t thrilled to head back to school, somehow a brand new eraser, a cool pen, and a smooth, unbent, clean folder made you just a bit hopeful…?

Now… think about how you’d feel if you couldn’t afford to get your child(ren) school supplies to start out their year right?

Yeah.  I don’t like the feeling, either.  AT. ALL.

The good folks over at Elmer’s recognize that even when a 4-oz. bottle of glue is on sale for 57¢ each, there are many families who simply don’t have the money for it.  Or anything else.

So Elmer’s started a movement, whereby you can help a child who needs to get their school year started off right – just like all kids deserve.

Bag-it-Forward:  What I Did

I headed over to my local Walmart.  Because that’s where I typically find the BEST deals on everything I need for my girls as they prepare to meet their new teacher(s) and start learning new stuff.

I started with a backpack.  I picked purple – “stick with what you know” kinda rings true here for me!

And then I got down to the business of filling it up.  Here are just a few of the aisles at Walmart that I mined for all the goodness that is school supplies:

Want a few more details about the fun I had with my girls doing this project?  Check this out:

Bag-it-Forward:  Impact

A local community group knows right where this should go – I’ll drop it off to them on Monday morning.   I so sincerely hope that my small contribution will lessen the load and worry of a parent or two.  And brighten up the day of a little girl who just cannot wait to run her suntanned fingers over each pencil, tablet, and glue stick.

Bag-it-Forward:  Get Involved!

This awesome program is VERY easy to get involved in – there aren’t any qualifications needed to give someone a little something that they really need!

Here are just as few of the things that you can [and dare I say it?  SHOULD] do:

• Click here to go to the Elmer’s Facebook page.  Simply “like” their page – because for every “like” from now until September 1^st, Elmer’s will donate a product to their foundation.  Their foundation [name] runs free (!!!) stores for teachers and students who are disadvantaged and need assistance.  Things like glue, pencil boxes, presentation supplies, and the like will be such a welcome help to so many who simply couldn’t be successful in school without the “raw materials” to do it!
• Click here to view Elmer’s Kids In Need Facebook Page.  Each time someone watches the “Kids in Need Foundation” video, Elmer’s will donate one MORE thing to the “free stores” mentioned above.
• Paricipate in Upromise? For each Elmer’s glue or Krazy Glue product you purchase with your Upromise-registered card, you’re earning more for your Upromise account!  More info can be found here:  http://www.elmers.com/about/special-offers.  While you’re on this page, be sure to check out the crafting supplies sweepstakes AND the rebate you can earn on select products!
• Click here to visit Elmer’s Bag it Forward page, where you’ll find out how YOU can contribute to a school, family, or student – just like I did!

 

Disclosure: This review has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  All opinions expressed herein are exclusively my own.

 

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