Well, it’s that time of year again, the kids are getting sick of each other, it’s starting to get dark earlier, the days are cooling, and the trees are starting to change! With the first day of school right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to finish any last minute summer bucket list items yet to be checked off your list!
Like bears preparing to hibernate, or birds flying south for the winter, we each have our own ways to prepare for the cooler months, and for many of us parents, that compulsion is brought on by the preparation for school.
For many, the preparation for school is a genuine stressor. For children the anxiety of the unknown may make them nervous, and for adults, the Very real weight of the costs of school supplies may be overwhelming! Government funded summer meal programs have been established to help families who rely on free or discounted school meals to be able to better cope with the increase in their food budgets, another bonus is these summer meal programs don't discriminate, and any hungry child, school age or not can participate. These programs are wonderful alternatives that people rely on, but may not be enough to make up the difference. Their food budgets may go down again with their children back in school, but that doesn't mean they have the money to afford the supplies they need right now.
So how can you help these children directly?
As we all know School supplies can be expensive, and I understand that not everyone is made of money and able to donate a classroom's worth of supplies, but even purchasing one extra 50 cent box of crayons to donate to the class can make a difference! Here are some ways you can help these students, and the Teachers!
- $- Purchase one extra supply to donate to your classroom, the teacher can distribute extra supplies discreetly to any student without, or replenish any that run out throughout the year!
- $-$$- Buy an extra backpack, Stores like Walmart started carrying trendy backpacks that I have seen for as low as $10! Just last year I had the pleasure of witnessing a girl receive the gift of a trendy backpack a teacher purchased her with her own money and it was magical!
- $$- Ask your child’s teacher what is something within your budget that they might need for the classroom? And don't be afraid to suggest what your budget is! Even if you only have $20 to contribute, the gesture is pure and that's all that matters! You could even give that teacher a gift card to a store you believe they could use it for the classroom (or as a treat for themselves if you would prefer) Sometimes teachers spend their own money on things that don’t seem necessary to the learning experience, But they make that teacher the cool one, while in turn it motivates our children to cooperate and learn. Which is the magnificent prize box! I always donate any appropriate leftover party bag items from any of our birthday parties, and one of our teachers told me that a mom used to make homemade play dough for the prize box for her!
- $$- NEW Socks, Winter hats, Gloves & mittens. It’s pretty self-explanatory, Kids lose these, I am constantly buying these for my kids and it gets expensive! Every teacher we have ever had has told me they have bought a pack of socks, or mittens for kids to “barrow”. It may not be every teacher’s prerogative but I bet the office, health room, or any number of other places in the school will appreciate them! If not I know the Mission community outreach center does!
- $$- When school clothes shopping grab an extra winter coat, chances are your child is about the same size as all the other kids in their class, if your child is a little small for their age, maybe consider buying a size up, but places like Costco and Walmart sell warm winter coats for $20-$30 dollars and it could make a world of difference for a child!
- $$$- sponsor a child, Purchase an extra set of supplies to bring to the classroom.
- $-$$$- Pay school lunch bills off or in advance.
- PRICELESS- Volunteer, no amount of money can make up for the effect that parents who are hands on with their children's education can make on not only our own children, but our society.
Why are these acts of kindness important?
For starters, “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.” — Mother Teresa
Random acts of kindness are not just something you do for yourself, to make yourself feel good in most cases, it's a thankless act where you don’t ever get to see your recipient. Random acts of kindness are not something you do to gain recognition or popularity, but to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and think about how you would feel if someone surprised you with a random act of kindness when you needed it most. The process of taking it upon yourself to put careful thought and preparation into something, for a potential complete stranger alone is enough to increase things like, Dopamine, serotonin, Oxycontin and endorphins. Not to mention, your generosity could inspire someone else’s! My life long commitment to generosity is what drives me in life, it’s ultimately why I became the Spokane Macaroni Kid Publisher, And when my time comes, I hope my generosity is my legacy.
These are just some ways you can help a child in your area without having to go out of your way in your everyday life, through simple acts of kindness that benefits our struggling schools and it’s families falling on hard times.
Inspired to do some good in our community?
Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Or Twitter and share how your family spreads cheer with Random Acts of Kindness in our community, or feel free to share your experience receiving a Random Act of Kindness you may have received!
Disclaimer: Photos of you and your family preparing for your Act of kindness are welcome, No photos of the recipients will be accepted, ask yourself if you would like your hard times to be shared across social media? The answer is probably going to be a no, and that same respect should be shown to others.
