August Cause: Support Education, Our Youth and Their Teachers
As thoughts of Back to School fill our heads it is a perfect time to Support Our Youth. This month we have chosen Education as our giving theme. We can help with the student or the teachers. We can make a difference. We had a discussion in the Welcome Wagon Group (the volunteer group that keeps this site running smoothly) and there were lots of ideas to share with you.
We will be looking forward to reading about and seeing pictures of your Educational Gives.
1. Donate back packs to those in need.
2. Donate lunch boxes where needed.
3. Save all Box Tops For Education and turn in to your school
4. Ask the teachers if there are needed supplies and provide them if possible.
5. Get a cute school bag and put some paper, pencils, glue sticks, erasers and other things you think they could use and leave it at the door with a cute note or send in with your child as a surprise!
6. Send a gift card to a teacher for supplies.
7. Be sure to thank and recognize the teachers throughout the year. Without their guidance our children would be lost.
8. Join the P.T.A. and you can help in so many ways.
9. Maybe buy a lunch card for a child that may be in dire need of it and donate through the principal of your school...
10. Donate items for recess play such as jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, kickballs or basketballs, etc. A lot of the outdoor summer items are being marked down. This is a great time to grab some for a local school. The students really appreciate them.
11. Donate gloves, mittens.
12. New or gently used coats, clothes or shoes directly to a school. Shoes and coats are usually in high demand at my school.
13. Donate books to the school library.
14. If you have a special talent such as photography, drawing, painting, sculpting, knitting, volunteer to do a presentation about your talent.
15. Career presentations are great too.....the students love to hear about different careers. You are an inspiration!
16. Make a donation to the principal or PTA to be used to bring in a presenter. We have several wonderful programs at my school each year such as, COSI, Children's Theater and a couple of author visits. These can be very costly, so donations are greatly appreciated.
17. Donate craft supplies or collect items such as egg cartons and paper towel rolls. Teachers are thrilled to get these items.
18. Volunteer to chaperone on field trips.
19. Donate gift cards to be used as prizes for a behavior incentive program or at a fund-raising event.
20. In our town, the local grocery store puts the required school supplies for students of each grade in brown bags (one student's worth per bag) and you can add a bag to your grocery order.
21. Volunteer to read to the younger students. They will love you.
22. Donate sports uniforms in good condition that your child has outgrown.
23. Donate school uniforms to schools that require them.
24. Buy something from a child selling things for a fundraiser.
25. Attend the school's open house. If they're selling something there I'll buy to support.
26. Talk to teachers and give them encouraging words/compliments.
27. Attendance shows your support for any school events: concerts, plays, art shows, sporting events, and sometimes there are admission prices which lead to financial support as well.
28. Serve on the school board ... or just attend a meeting; vote on school referendums.
29. Please don't forget early childhood education: preschools, daycares, play groups, etc. The first five years are the most important. If you are a parent of a child, support the early education system by signing your child up for a program. There are sessions for those as young as infants (they usually consist of time for all children to interact with each other and their caregivers and also time for parents to discuss issues affecting their children and get some advice).
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Harriet on -
beautiful gives, education is #1. thank you for spreading the good news.
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Permalink Reply by Tamiko Paquette on -
30.Snacks that a teacher can give to a student who is missing theirs for whatever reason.
31. Breakfast bars and such for students that don't get breakfast.
33.Recognize our school bus drivers!!! Thank you! A coffee gift card!
34. Donate to the teacher's lounge...coffee, tea, hot chocolate, packaged muffins, microwave items...
35. Supplies for school nurse
36. Recognize the secretary too!
37. Stickers! Note cards! to anyone in the school building!
38. Ziplock bags of all sizes--again anyone in the building can use them!
39. Please thankthe custodians!!! They work so hard int he summer heat to make the building shine!
40.Volunteer to create seasonal bulletin boards and then take time to put them up!
41. Make sure your child is set to complete homework at home properly!
42.Volunteer to write up the monthly class newletter and photocopy it for the class!
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Permalink Reply by Deb~ Community Manager on -
Great idea about the snacks Tamiko! I actually love all of them. I will have to get a box going for the school year!
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Permalink Reply by Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder on -
Thanks Elly, Deb and all you awesome Welcome Wagoneers who come up with such creative ideas for us every month!
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Permalink Reply by Deb~ Community Manager on
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My hubby got me a tub on sale and I am already collecting things on all the lists here. I think this will be an awesome giving challenge for me to see how many I can help this school year! Thanks for all the ideas~
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Permalink Reply by Tamiko Paquette on
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Congratulations to you! You have a terrific and loving husband who supports your passion! I would be honored and excited to have you in my community. I thought maybe of doing the same thing and bringing the tub of items to our family homeless shelter rather than the school. I think including a giftcard to a department store so that a new outfit or something as simple as a new package of underwear and socks can be selected by the child. Or even giving the parent a giftcard and sharing with them the joy of shopping and giving their child an outfit or something that they would not be able to do otherwise.
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Permalink Reply by Tamiko Paquette on
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43. Craft an item such as a quilt, jewelry set, hat and scarf set or donate a gift card to a school's fundraiser project!
44. Go ask a teacher what he/she needs help with.
45. Pop is or arrange ahead of time to help a teacher set up a classroom and get photocopying done for that first week of school. It takes a lot of time to open a classroom--time away from family
46. Bring in a cup of coffee that first morning for the teacher in a recycle mug! Or lemonade if it is hot!
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Permalink Reply by rocken nana wwt on -
Our school has a volunteer reading program for kids having trouble reading. All you do is sit there and listen and if they are having problems with a word help them. This is only in K-5 I think.
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Permalink Reply by Deb~ Community Manager on
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These are the best gifts we can give to help so many~
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Permalink Reply by Deb~ Community Manager on
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I am slowly but surely adding to my stash for this school year. Thank you for the great ideas everybody!
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Permalink Reply by Deb~ Community Manager on
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Great cause for us all to support!
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Permalink Reply by Cami Walker -- 29Gifts Founder on
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Trying to thing of a good give to wrap up this month. I am packing up my house and realized I have a lot of books that a high school library might like. I am going to drop off a box and see if they would be helpful
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