The reality is that back to school shopping has already started for many families (including ours), but it’s also true that many kids just can’t afford new supplies, healthy breakfasts or even new shoes for their school start this September. That’s why it’s a great idea to make giving back part of your preparations for the new school year.
As much as I love summer, sun and sitting pool side (when the weather is actually good), I really love the excitement and routine of going back to school. I can remember going school supply shopping with my mom and my sister every year and loading up the cart with all new binders, markers and pencils. Cracking open that new spiral notebook and writing “Mrs. Shaun Cassidy” always symbolized the start of a great new school year.
Now with my own boys, while they might not be quite as excited as me, to start another year at school, they do love to shop for new supplies! Last year, we started a new tradition of giving back to other kids so that they could enjoy just some of the privileges that we have. More and more companies are providing ways to make your dollars count for underprivileged kids around the world, so why not use your buying power to shop where it counts? It’s also a great way to have another discussion about making philanthropy part of your family’s daily life. Here are my 5 favourite ideas to give back this back to school season;
1. I’ve fallen in love with the Me to We products for back to school (sold exclusively at Staples Canada). Ty and I loved attending the launch in June, where we learned about how this innovative line of products will support several initiatives around the world. The best part is that after your purchase is made, you can go online and track your dollars. Ty and I got home from the event and grabbed the laptop to find out how our money would be used. We found out that when we bought the Me to We water bottle, we helped an 8 year old get access to clean water in his village in Ghana. How cool is that?
2. Did you know that 1 in 3 Canadian students will start the school year without the proper supplies? Staples Canada teamed up with global pop music superstar Katy Perry this year to “Make Roar Happen” which celebrates and supports students during the back-to-school season with the goal of reaching the milestone of $10 million in nine years. Each Staples location, in partnership with one or more local registered charities and schools (click here for a list of local partners), invites donations at point of sale where 100 % of the proceeds or supplies collected will be directed to schools, classes and persons who most need the assistance. What a fabulous way to give back while you shop with the kids!
3. You could also start off the school year with a donation of $20 to the library at SickKids. While our kids will be in class, some children will be using reading to escape from their daily and sometimes difficult hospital routine. Story-time and book delivery service, where books are delivered right to the children in their hospital bed, are just a couple of the children’s favourite services you can help support. Your gift may help provide a child with hours of enjoyment during their hospital stay and will help fund popular and classic books of all kinds – in different languages, on CD, and for all reading levels.
4. As part of our back to school giving, we just sent 4 cartons to the West End School in Negril, a place we visited during our trip to Jamaica last year. With our emotional attachment to the place where we read books to the kids, hugged the students and where our boys received stickers and high fives from its children, the Sandals Foundation (and the West End Early Childhood Institution) was the perfect choice to give back for the new school year.
Adopting a school outside of Canada can bring a sense of global responsibility and help teach your children to look beyond our borders. Sandals Foundation in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos is an amazing organization that helps to ensure that as many children, youth and adults as possible have the educational opportunities they need to reach their full potential. Programs include community scholarships, adopted schools, book drives and literacy programs, and support of new libraries and computer facilities. 100% of your donation goes to the specific projects.
5. Did you know that 36% of the 1.7 million Canadians turning to Food Banks in 2013 were children and youth? That’s too many empty lunch boxes heading to school each day. You can help this August and September when you attend a Quaker lunch bag event at momstown this month or go online to use your child’s art to create their very own ‘Made in Canada’ lunch bag. For every approved submission, Quaker will donate the equivalent of 10 lb. of food to Food Banks Canada for Canadian families in need. In 2013, Food Banks Canada distributed over 17 million lb. of food to its network of 500 food banks, of which over 1 million lb. was cereal (a category that includes granola bars). What a great way to get the kids involved in giving back this September!
Me to We Pencil Pouch
Me to We Casemade Binder 1.5″
Me to We Dividers
Me to We Casemade Journal with Bungee
Amy Heffernan
August 15, 2014 at 6:35 pm (10 years ago)Always at staples. They have the BEST deals!
Jonnie (JB)
August 15, 2014 at 9:28 pm (10 years ago)I shop at Staples, WalMart, Target and Costco.
Robyn Bellefleur
August 15, 2014 at 9:56 pm (10 years ago)I usually go to Walmart and staples.
Cozycomfycouch
August 15, 2014 at 11:30 pm (10 years ago)walmart
Wendy Hutton
August 15, 2014 at 11:42 pm (10 years ago)usually shop at walmart
suzie
August 16, 2014 at 1:15 am (10 years ago)I shop Costco, walmart & staples
Juliee
August 16, 2014 at 1:31 am (10 years ago)I shop at Staples
Judy C
August 16, 2014 at 2:27 am (10 years ago)Usually Walmart & Staples (Judy Cowan)
pippirose
August 16, 2014 at 3:36 am (10 years ago)Walmart and Staples
Amy C
August 16, 2014 at 6:12 am (10 years ago)Staples, Target and Walmart
rhodry69
August 16, 2014 at 5:22 pm (10 years ago)Wally World (Wal-mart)
Andrea
August 16, 2014 at 11:15 pm (10 years ago)Generally I shop at Walmart, but I do buy my printer supplies at Staples.
Silvia
August 17, 2014 at 5:17 am (10 years ago)Either Wal Mart or Staples.
Brenda Penton
August 17, 2014 at 4:47 pm (10 years ago)Walmart
seham merzib
August 17, 2014 at 5:31 pm (10 years ago)staples and walmart
bobbi
August 17, 2014 at 5:39 pm (10 years ago)I shop where ever the deals are, usually Walmart or Staples.
Kristi R.
August 17, 2014 at 10:37 pm (10 years ago)Usually walmart and staples.
Bernice06
August 17, 2014 at 11:38 pm (10 years ago)Staples ,Superstore or Walmart depends on what the kids need
patrick siu
August 17, 2014 at 11:52 pm (10 years ago)we shop at staples.
Pam
August 18, 2014 at 12:52 am (10 years ago)Always shop at Staples!
Lori Bazan
August 18, 2014 at 2:08 am (10 years ago)Always at Staples!!!
maria
August 18, 2014 at 2:40 am (10 years ago)Walmart and staples!
billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com
Nena
August 18, 2014 at 3:38 am (10 years ago)Staples mostly!
Salad For Breakfast
August 18, 2014 at 4:05 am (10 years ago)I shop at Staples. They have great deals!
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texan_michael AT yahoo DOT com
Amber
August 18, 2014 at 4:24 am (10 years ago)We usually do most of our shopping at walmart.
Taylor Hawkins
August 18, 2014 at 1:51 pm (10 years ago)Mostly staples. It’s the easiest place to find what we need.
Martina - GetReal Momma
August 18, 2014 at 6:24 pm (10 years ago)Mostly Walmart
ksceviour
August 18, 2014 at 6:26 pm (10 years ago)I shop at walmart,,cant beat those prices!
(Karla Scecviour)
Elaine D
August 19, 2014 at 3:04 am (10 years ago)walmart
truckerofbc
August 20, 2014 at 4:19 am (10 years ago)We shop at Walmart as they have the cheapest prices usually
flowerchild
August 21, 2014 at 12:53 am (10 years ago)We shop at Walmart and Staples
thanks
Terri O'Donnell
August 21, 2014 at 12:55 am (10 years ago)I shop at Staples, Walmart & Sears
Glogirl
August 21, 2014 at 1:02 am (10 years ago)I shop at Walmart and Staples.
Busymumof4
August 21, 2014 at 1:54 am (10 years ago)I’ll shop at whatever store has a sale, but I find that Staples has the lowest prices.
Kayla Gilbert
August 24, 2014 at 10:18 pm (10 years ago)I usually shop at Wal-Mart for back to school supplies.