Lemonade Stand and Back to School

It’s the end of August and what does that mean? Back to school!

But not if you’re a homeschooler in this house! We homeschool year round, but our schooling is much more relaxed in the summer.  So our “unofficial first day” is usually the week after Labor Day. Something about starting before that just seems wrong, especially if you live in Michigan. Most importantly, we have to soak up every warm weather day we get to help us make it through the winter.

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When most kids think of back to school shopping, they’re pretty excited. New clothes, new shoes, new notebooks, and who doesn’t love the smell of a brand new pack of Crayola crayons? Especially if it’s the 64 count box that came with the sharpener. I know, I know! I’m dating myself! But man! Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, that was the highlight of back to school. Forget iPads and cell phones! We were just excited to sharpen the crayons to see who could get the longest shaving without it breaking.

Oh… my… gosh, Becky! Look at her sale! It is SO big!

Charlene and I decided to have a garage sale in July. She would come with her car packed full of stuff to sell, and, of course, her kids to help. She was really coming so her kids could play with my kids, and we could sell some stuff! We all know how much work goes into a garage sale, but doing it together would make it easier on both of us, and not to mention, a whole lot more fun too! Dance party in the driveway to Justin Timberlake?!? Anyone?

On the first day of our sale, I received a postcard in the mail from D.A. Blodgett St. Johns (DABSJ) about their “Backpack & School” supply drive. DABSJ provides counseling, foster care, adoption, mentoring, and residential care to local children and their families. My oldest daughter, LR, saw the postcard and I could see the wheels start turning. She rounded up her sister and the next thing I knew, they were unfolding their plan before me.

All of the kids would have a lemonade stand and they would split their profits at the end of the sale. They would use their money they make from the lemonade stand, and purchase school supplies for DABSJ.

Bless their hearts! Ever since my children were little, I’ve always tried to teach them to think of ways to help other people who might not have what you have. Their idea was a gentle reminder that they are listening. 

The part of Back to School that is hard to talk about.

While back to school shopping can be an exciting time for many kids, others may be dreading it and the hardship that comes with it. Growing up, at the end of every summer, I remember feeling the stress that would unfold for our parents, having to buy back to school supplies for all 4 of us kids. Our dad was an auto mechanic and our mom was a stay at home mom, so stretching a dollar was very important.

1 in 5 children in Michigan live in poverty. That means for some parents, they have to choose between school supplies or paying the electrical bill. In 2017, parents said they spent on average $114.12 per child on school supplies, not including clothing and shoes. Back to school shopping is an $82.8 BILLION dollar industry. How are these children supposed to focus on learning if they don’t have the necessary tools to help them?

So what did we do about it?

We took our lemonade money, loaded up in the van, and headed to Target. And we bought it ALL!

• pencils
• crayons
• colored pencils
• markers
• pens
• paper
• notebooks
• rulers
• folders
• binders
• glue sticks
• highlighters
• and erasers

Phew! The smiles on their faces as they were shopping, were priceless. They loved picking out different things for girls and boys, never knowing whom these supplies were going to bless.

What about next year?

Both LR and EG mentioned that they wanted to do it again next year. So I did a little research to see what other options were available in West Michigan, to donate to. Here’s what I have found so far:

• D. A. Blodgett serves over 500 students through their Back to School Supply Drive. 
• United Way has a program called Stuff the Bus which provides tens of thousands of school supplies to K-12 schools in Kent County. You can start your own collection at a workplace, church, or school and there are public donation sites at local businesses throughout the area.
• YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids puts on a carnival-style back to school event where families are invited to play games, win school supplies, and participate in fun projects, such as face painting, treats and giveaways. Attendees will also receive a free backpack full of supplies, including markers, glue sticks, pencils, folders, notebooks and other items. Supplies are limited.
• Samaritas had a supply drive with multiple local drop-off locations. They were hoping to stuff 100 backpacks full of the essential items for back to school (backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, erasers, scissors, crayons packs, markers, pencil boxes/bags, colored pencils, rulers).

PERHAPS next year, when you’re doing your school shopping, you can pick up a couple extra notebooks, a package of pencils, or box of crayons. (Bonus points for you if it’s the one with the sharpener!) You could help some child’s first day at school go a lot smoother knowing they have what they need.