*This sponsored post is brought to you by Schoola, the best place to buy discounted kids clothes all while give back to schools in need. CLICK HERE to learn more about Schoola and to see what people are saying.
Anyone who has ever been a parent can tell you that it is not easy. Children don’t come with instructions and it’s hard to know whether one is doing a good job or not all the time. Early on, my husband and I agreed that we would teach our children to be appreciative for all their blessings and to be able to give back to those less fortunate. This was especially important to us both since we had been raised in households where lack of finances and poverty had been real factors for our parents.
The question then became how exactly we would go about teaching our boys these valuable lessons about humility and generosity? An answer might seem simple to some but, in these materialistic times that we live in, it’s not always easy to explain to young people that they world does not revolve around them and there are others who don’t enjoy the same privileges that they do. After having numerous conversations with our parents, grandparents, and spiritual leaders, here are some of the ideas that we came up with for teaching our sons to give back to others in need:
- As my husband and I had done when we were dating, we decided to volunteer together at local soup kitchens during the holidays to feed the homeless. These facilities are often understaffed and could use the extra help as well as any food donations that you could spare.
- Every year, I identify a student in my class whose family is experiencing financial hardships and my husband and I donate a Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving meal to that family. We involve our boys in delivering the food items to the family in need and explain to them why we are doing this.
- We clean out our closets every season and identify gently used clothing that the boys have outgrown or that we don’t need anymore and take our boys to donate the clothing to local charities that supply homeless and battered women’s shelters.
Although these are only small contributions when one thinks about how great the need is, it’s our way of teaching our boys that it is better to give than to receive. That is why I support what Schoola is doing to save music and arts programs in needy schools.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT SHOPPING AT SCHOOLA?
When you purchase clothing from Schoola, you are directly supporting our schools. Parents, friends, teachers, and staff from schools all around the country signed up to send us their no longer needed children’s clothing so they could sell it on their school’s behalf. A percentage of the proceeds from every item that is purchased will go back to the designated school.
In my case, I have chosen to support the efforts of the KIPP Academy in the Bronx to raise $25,000 to fund their music program. Music helps KIPP Academy reach and engage every child who walks through its doors. The slogan on the Music Room wall sets the stage—All of Us Will Learn Music. No matter what backgrounds they come from or what challenges they face, these students will learn lessons together that will serve them the rest of their lives.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- Request a Schoola Bag which you can fill with clothing that your children have outgrown. Schoola will cover the shipping costs and then sell the clothing you donated, at a severely discounted rate, to people all across the country. Schoola will then donate 40% of the proceeds from these clothing sales to the KIPP Academy to help expand its music program.
- Just for requesting a Schoola Bag, they will donate $1 to KIPP Academy for every request and if you actually donate clothes and provide the school’s information, they will also donate $2 of every $5 made to KIPP Academy’s goal.
Some of the gently used clothing options currently on sale at Schoola for elementary school-aged boys.
To help me to support the KIPP Academy in reaching their goal, Schoola is extending a 20% discount off their already low prices to all of my readers. You can use the code Backtoschoola20 to save some money on your back to school shopping and feel good about it knowing that Schoola will donate money from each purchase to the KIPP Academy and to schools like it.
Hurry though, this discount is only available through August 20th, 2014 and there is a limit of one use per customer. Thank you for letting me support such a deserving school and for helping me teach my children the valuable lesson of giving…
Let’s Discuss: How are you teaching your children that it is better to give than to receive?
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored blogging campaign in collaboration with Schoola. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
© 2014, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
I have never heard of schoola but great opportunity to save $$. And thanks for the volunteer ideas.
I’d never hear of schoola but that is a great concept. Kids are never to young to learn about giving back, I think.
This is the first time I’ve discovered schoola, I think that it’s a great thing to support it.
It is a lesson we try to teach as well. Our youngest (age 9) even volunteered at the local library to read to younger kids. We were so proud, so thought of doing that on her own!
We visit our local thrift shop/foodbank every week and donate toys. We then buy a few more because all the money goes to charity.
At Christmas, The Kids forgo presents and we donate all the ones they receive to a childs charity in memory of their brother.
Charity is a daily part of our life.
I hadn’t heard of Schoola, thanks for sharing.
Besos, Sarah
Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo
What a great sounding idea – I love that they try and make it so easy for you to help out others. x
We donate our gently used clothing, shoes, books, etc. to our local charities. We always donate food in the bins at our local stores and to our local food banks and we pay it forward whenever possible. It could be something something as small as putting quarters in the vending machines that kids check.
We do not live an extravagant life, so I really do not tech my children this. We live on a budget. However we share what we have and donate what we no longer need
This is such a lovely cause! It’s so important to involve our children in our giving efforts. I try to do at least 2-3 volunteer projects a year with my sons.
Such a great program and worthy cause. I hope this gets tons of visibility so many people will participate.
Ok I love seeing posts like this. So often I see all about new this or new that it is nice to reflect how to give back. I really hope this spreads like wild fire. Thank you for sharing!
We are always giving away stuff when we are done with it, like weekly. My kids know all about helping others. They have asked me why I don’t sell it and I explain that I was given it for free, so I would not charge someone else for it. Besides I’d rather just help someone out.
A few local organizations here in Houston have a back to school drive that collects supplies for kids in need. This a great organization you are supporting
What a great organization! I try to donate my gently used clothing as well since I wear more on the petite size so it’d fit high school kids 😛
That’s wonderful about the turkey. Those kinds of things can make all of the difference in the world to a family. We do things throughout the year too, and we schedule coat and toy runs at Christmas. I love the lessons it teaches the kids, but I love the helping even more.
This is an amazing cause. Back to school time can be difficult for families. Thanks for sharing.
Great program, and good for you for teaching your children such valuable life lessons. Inspiring for myself for my boys.
It is important to tech kids giving others, especially the ones in need. Great when families help each other and even more exciting to see the organizations like Schoola doing such a great job, I admire their dedication and support.
Fan R
@TeddyOutReady
I love this, what a great program.. it is soo important to teach our kids to give back..what a great post; thanks for sharing
How cool! I’ve never heard of this company, what a great lesson to learn and teach our kids.
This is a great way to not only teach your kids about giving, but also about helping other kids! I think this program should be available everywhere!
I love what you’ve done with the kids! I have had that philosophy and some of those traditions with my daughters as well, and they grow to be more compassionate and giving. Yay for Schoola, too!
Children learn by example, and if they grow up in a home where helping others is never discussed, they are less likely to think about it. I grew up in a philanthropic home, my kids see me give back/volunteer and they do same. I think the earlier the better.