For the past couple of years, as a family we’ve donated school supplies to needy children, because we all know how expensive it can be, and we live in an area with a high percentage of poverty. Last year, the kids filled these bags with general student supplies and gave them to our local school for distribution.
The kids enjoyed this project so much, that we decided to do it again this year. But this time the school had a particular family in mind, so they could give us specific grade level and gender information (while keeping it confidential.) We printed the school supplies lists provided by the school and embarked on a Wal-Mart spree, knowing exactly what was needed for each child.
The kids pooled their money to sponsor one of the four children, and we covered the rest. They never questioned the idea to sponsor the family. They took ownership from the very beginning.

After we filled the school shopping list and carted all the supplies to our car, I asked the kids how they felt about what we did.
They both agreed immediately: “Really good.”


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Tags: charity, Pass the Torch, Pass the Torch Tuesday, school supplies
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12:56 am
do these kids make you proud or W.H.A.T?
:^D
6:22 am
Yes, they do, Pamela! This is why I have so much blog fodder for PTT Tuesday!!
1:32 pm
Had DaHubby email a pic to me from work that went with my post today: http://twolittlevikings.blogspot.com/2007/08/pass-torch-tuesday.html
Thanks again, Kelly, for this. It’s making me a more “conscious” parent. And, congrats to you and your kids for the project you tackled! What an awesome idea!
5:37 pm
What a fantastic experience for them and to get to repeat it makes it even better!
Hugs,
Holly
5:54 pm
[...] My daughter is also a big family person and you can ask any of her family to confirm that by the number of phone calls they get on a frequent basis from her! She had a fun surprise this weekend when her birthmom came to visit. It was so much fun to have her stay with us for a couple nights and have one entire day to be with her. We went to lunch and caught the movie “Underdog” as I’ve been putting that one off far too long for my son’s liking. Daddy was the lucky one who made the sly recommendation that we take that in before he got home. I think I’ll return the favor by sending him on a daddy daughter date night to see the “Bratz” movie. That’s only fair isn’t it? Technorati Tags: Family Sharing Relationships Motherhood Like this article? subscribe here · add to my del.icio.us [...]
10:49 pm
Great post. Our family recent has put together school kits for those less-fortunate. And it really does feel good to know that we’re helping others to be prepared for education.
8:41 am
School supplies sure isn’t cheap and if you can spend a few bucks and add to some school supplies drive it would help some family somewhere.
6:46 pm
GREAT JOB, kids!!!
My kids did something similar for people in a rest home at Christmas time.
http://familyofoxes.blogspot.com/2006/12/spreading-christmas-cheer-with-scouts.html
*ignore the first pix…my hubby is being silly*.
9:01 pm
That is magnificent! Our family just has to do this.
2:45 pm
I know, I know – this comment is several days after the fact but I saw this over the weekend and thought of you! Great minds think alike – or, more likely, fellow great minds follow God’s leading! *wink*
2:45 pm
DUH! Here’s the link: http://twolittlevikings.blogspot.com/2007/08/two-cool-links.html
8:54 am
Donating School Supplies — It Feels Good
Here is a simple idea to get the whole family involved in giving back to the community.
10:52 pm
This is beautiul stuff and something they will never ever forget. It sounds like a wonderful tradition has been started.
4:31 am
[...] year at this time, our family buys extra school supplies so we can assemble full backpacks for students in my husband’s school. We sponsor these [...]
8:11 am
[...] and ye shall receive… Former posts about backpack donation: Donating School Supplies: It Feels Good Positively Speaking: Lessons about Poverty Filed In: *Empowerment, Self-Improvement, Stuff [...]