It’s the first day of school and I’m walking into the building just before 8 AM. Side by side with every parent and child, where you can feel the nervous energy. There are new backpacks, photos by the school sign, everyone smiling ear to ear. I meet with the principal 15 minutes after classes start, to tell her who I am and that I’m following through on our commitment from a couple weeks ago of delivering some much-needed school supplies!

You know, the supplies that EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS, but that state budgets seem to squeeze out. In the back of my car I have playground equipment, crayons, pencils, cinch sacks, and a lot of extras they didn’t know I’d be showing up with.

And I kid you not… You would’ve thought they just won the lottery!

Remember, we’re only 15 minutes into the school year and the principal stops everything. She brings 5 people out of the office to help gather items from my car. She empties a classroom of 3^rd graders to say thank you and take pictures. Then before I leave, there’s hugs all around.

$500 of school supplies and we just changed lives – and perspectives. My perspective more than any. That day will forever be engrained in my mind.

Hearing that, I hope you’d want to learn the whys and hows of doing local school supply shopping in your area similar to this. I’ve done it for 5 years in a row and it’s something that brings me real joy! I’d like to show you more and give you the step by step guide next week.