I’m trying to ignore the fact that Summer vacation for my son is halfway over, I just love having him home everyday! Back to school really is right around the corner for us and I’m starting to notice the displays of school supplies at stores. Every year as soon as I see the displays I squeal with joy. I don’t know what it is about school supplies but I love buying them every year.

Do you remember picking out a new backpack, pencils, crayons, and enough glue sticks to last you all year? I remember going to the store with my mom and sisters to pick out our items, I always wanted the Lisa Franks supplies. But what I also remember are the years when my mom struggled to provide us with all the clothes and supplies we needed for the new school year. My father passed away when I was four and raising three girls alone wasn’t always financially easy for my mother. At the time I didn’t really understand why I couldn’t always get new supplies like most of the kids in my class. Or why I had to use my old pair of shoes and couldn’t get Sketchers like every other girl. Although those memories weren’t the best I try not to dwell on those hard times and instead use them as a way to teach my children the importance of giving back.

Earlier this year I learned about the Elmer’s Bag It Forward program and I knew right away that I wanted to participate. I also wanted to tell you about it and encourage you to take part of this small act that can make a big difference in a child’s life. Another way you can help is by checking out the Elmer’s 1st Day app. You can find a QR code on the back to school display that will take you right to the download page or find it in the app store.

The app is free and you can use it to capture memories of you child, whether it be their first day, their first sleepover, or soccer game. Every time you upload a picture Elmer’s will donate a school supply to the Kids in Need Foundation. Elmer’s has partnered with the Kids in Need Foundation to help ensure every child has the chance to succeed by providing them with necessary school supplies. We all take pictures of our kids on the first day of school right?  This really is the easiest way to help a child have the right tools to learn.

Right now is the best time to purchase school supplies for a fraction of the normal cost. Walmart has their Elmer’s Glue Sticks for 10 cents! You can also find 10 cent notebooks and folders. You can see all the deals I found on Google+. If you need any donation ideas check out my top ten back-to-school supplies here.

Knowing me I had to create something with this donation. I’ve been pinning a lot of crafty back-to-school inspiration and knew I wanted to make a school supply cake. I’ll have a tutorial for it soon, promise! It’s going to be my son’s teacher gift this upcoming school year. I know the students are provided with supplies at school but I thought this “cake” would be great for the teacher to give to students who are unable to purchase these items at home.

I also made a bag of supplies for a sweet little girl who means a lot to me. Her mother is currently unemployed and I know things are hard on them right now. I wanted to buy some necessary back to school supplies to help ease the financial stress off of her mother. I’m taking her to pick out a new backpack and lunch box next week. She’s doesn’t know about the supplies yet so it’ll be a surprise. My kids know and they’re so excited to give them to her, I’m afraid they’ll spill the beans. :)

The Bag It Forward program means a lot to me and I highly encourage you to participate. It can be a small donation of pencils, glue, paper, and a folder that will make a big impact to a child in need. If you write about it please send me a link, I’d love to help promote your post.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study forCollective Bias™ and Elmer’s #BagItForward #CBias