Delivering School Supplies to a Teacher in need #BagItForward #Champion4Kids #Cbias

I grew up in a small town in Star Valley, Wyoming. Our schools were always poor and relied a lot on the students supplying a lot of our own school supplies. But even then the school district and teachers would still have to pay for a lot of school supplies on their own. Wyoming's education is now doing much better financially than it was when I was going to school there, but they are still in need in areas and school supplies happen to be one of them. 

Earlier this week I told you about the amazing opportunity I had to join forces with #Champion4Kids and Elmer’s #BagItForward  in a simple service project to draw attention to the schools, faculty and families who are in need of school supplies. I showed you my journey of purchasing school supplies and now I'm thrilled to tell you about our experience with presenting one amazing teacher with our donation to help out her classroom this school year. You can see and read about our entire journey from our Elmer's Bag it forward campaign Google+ photo album as well. 

"Teachers spend an average of $356 out-of-pocket on quality school supplies every single year. Many
spend up to $1500 just to provide basic classroom necessities."

Discovering and Donating school supplies to a Teacher in Need.

When I learned I had the opportunity to donate school supplies to a school or teacher in Wyoming, I was thrilled. Like I said I grew up there! It still claims my heart as home. But I've been gone for so long, how was I to find a teacher that could really use my supplies. Then I remembered, J's teacher from last year mentioned she had a friend that recently got a job teaching in my hometown! So I called her up and asked if she could put me in touch with her friend so I could make a donation. She was very willing to help and before long I had met Mrs. Nelson!

Mrs. Nelson teaches 2nd grade in another small town in Star Valley, Wyoming. She is enthusiastic, friendly and a pure delight to work with! While talking with her I discovered that quite often her classroom runs low on school supplies as early as Christmas. She's developed a small system where she has a "Christmas Wish List" that she lets the parents know about. Instead of regular teacher Christmas Gifts, she asks for school supplies she is running low on or has completely depleted. She said this definitely helps buffer the expense she has to shoulder herself. I'm excited to take part and help her out as much as we can to help make her school supplies last even longer and hopefully this year, she won't have to spend much at all from  her own pocket! 

Mrs. Nelson just happened to be visiting her family in our town this week, so we made arrangements to meet up so my kids could present her with her new school supplies. I really wanted my kids involved in this simple service project, to help them understand the wonderful feelings, and accomplishments that come from service work. I wanted them to see how a little charitable effort on their part could make a huge difference for someone else. 

J. was my biggest help and he carried the heavy bag of school supplies all his lonesome from the car to our meeting location. 

When it was time to present the school supplies to Mrs. Nelson I had all of my kids help present the bag of school supplies. Even little Jade was involved.

My kids have always enjoyed giving gifts, so I think for them it felt like they were merely giving another small gift. And truly they were! Mrs. Nelson and her own son were there to accept my kid's gift with open arms. 

Jade was the most enthusiastic about helping Mrs. Nelson see all the goodies we had gathered for her. 

Remember those White board Markers I mentioned every teacher always runs out of? Yeah, Mrs. Nelson was thrilled about those because she has to replace hers often! 

Our journey with our simple service project has been an amazing one! My children have learned a valuable lesson in service and helping others out. I've learned how charitable my children can be, and we've all discovered the amazing accomplishments that Champions for Kids coordinates to success! Mrs. Nelson and her 2nd grade class thanks all those who helped us make this simple service project possible!

You may only be one in a million, but your actions can make a difference to Millions down the road.  What actions are you taking to help out? 

Take Action, Learn More, and bag it forward by hosting your own Simple service project for School Supplies.

 Are you ready to take action and join the cause? 

For more information on the Champions for kids and Elmer's Bag it forward campaign and to see how you can get involved simply

• visit Champions for kids
• Follow champions for kids on twitter
• Like Champions for Kids on Facebook
• Like Elmer's on Facebook
• Follow Elmer's on Twitter.

What simple service projects do you have in your community?

Have you seen the Bag it forward donation bins in your area? 

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Champions for Kids #CBias #SocialFabric. However all opinions and images are 100% my own and was not influenced.

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Tagged as: back to school, bag it forward, champions for kids, donation, Elmer's, school supplies, service, simple service project