The back to school season is practically upon us.  Children and their parents everywhere are making preparations for another school year.  For some lucky children, that means buying new clothes and new school supplies.  Others will be glad to return to school just to have a regular breakfast and lunch every day.  I have a friend who works with the poor and homeless in the Harrisburg area who tells me that many of the children she sees are making do with holey shoes, no coats, and no school supplies.  The schools in our area teach swimming to the 2nd and 4th graders, which I always thought was a good thing.  It never occurred to me that many kids have no swim suit and have to swim in shorts and a tee-shirt.

But this story ends on a positive note.  I stopped at my local Target, where I got a boy’s and girl’s swimsuit, a couple of books, packs of pencils, and the cutest kids’ slip-on shoes on sale for $6.90.  I wish that I could help all the kids, but helping one boy and one girl is a start.  If everyone helped just one child, we could make a difference.  See what bargains you can snatch up.  Drop them off at your local shelter or food bank and help just one kid have a positive school experience.

There is also a way you can help your local schools that won’t cost you any money.  Just be on the lookout for the General Mills Box Tops for Education on a myriad of products.  These are on cereal boxes that you would probably be recycling or (shudder!) throwing away.  Rescue these little gems from the trash and help schools get desperately needed equipment.  Right now I’m trying to find a school in an economically depressed area to send them to, in my attempt to level the playing field for disadvantaged youth.  But if that isn’t your cup of tea, donate them to any school that participates in the program.  An investment in education is an investment in our future.

“Charity is that which opens in each heart a little Heaven.”

Matthew Prior