Rosie’s First Day of School Last Year
Are you ready? Â Can you believe that there are only 5-6 weeks left of summer? Â It’s going to be the first day of school before you know it. Â The first day of school is exciting – full of new friends, a new teacher, new challenges.
We already went school supply shopping! Â Rosie is going to be in first grade next year, wow. Â I remember school supply shopping last year… Â I tried to find the best bargains, comparing sale papers, going from store to store. Â I ended up returning everything I’d bought and going to Walmart. Â Walmart had the best prices, quality school supplies, and everything in one easy place! Â So this year, it was easy – head straight for Walmart.
We did do something else a bit different this year.  What company do you think of when you think of school glue?  America’s favorite white glue is Elmer’s!  They’ve been making glue since 1947!  Elmer’s is running a campaign this back-to-school season, called “Bag It Forward”.  Elmer’s is encouraging anyone who can, to “Buy Two, Donate One”.  When you purchase school supplies for your child, pick up an extra set.  There are always children in need who have to go to school without the supplies they need.  It’s been proven that having quality supplies is important to building a child’s confidence and self-esteem which, in turn, supports educational accomplishments.  Doesn’t that pull at your heart?  It’s tough enough to get through school without having to borrow supplies and deal with the embarrassment of not having what you’re supposed to have.  We are giving our “#BagItForward” donation to the school for them to distribute the supplies as needed.  We thought they would know best how to use our extras.
I was surprised at how easy and inexpensive it was to put together a cute “#BagItForward” donation! Â This project lets you help someone in your community, without straining your own budget or time. Â When you do a “Buy Two, Donate One”, it is very easy and quick!
Elmer’s 1st Day – School Supply List Display Kiosk
Walmart had a display kiosk with the school supply lists from the schools in our area. Â On the kiosk was a QR code for the Elmer’s 1st Day app. Â Are you familiar with QR codes? Â You download a free QR reader on your smartphone, then whenever you see a QR code (looks a bit like a square bar code) you can scan the QR code into your phone. Â Whatever that company linked their QR code to will be pulled up on your phone.
1st Day app QR Code on the Supply List Kiosk at Walmart
The Elmer 1st Day app is such a great idea! Â What special traditions do you have for the first day of school? Â Do you always make sure you get a picture? Â The 1st Day app is free and allows parents to capture the special moments of that 1st day, year after year. Â You just snap pictures of your kids on the big day (and other special “firsts” throughout the year) and they are stored for you to use in various ways. Â You can use them to make photo memory keepsakes and share with other family members and friends. Â For every photo uploaded using the 1st Day app, Elmer’s is going to donate one product to The Kids in Need Foundation (up to 200,000 products!).
Rosie had fun putting all the school supplies we bought into the lunch box. Â Then we tied up the whole thing with a pretty ribbon (pink, of course). Â We took it to her school. Â It was heart-warming for me to see her being generous and giving.
 
… and of course, you have to check on the playground!
To see pictures of my whole shopping trip, go to my Google + photo album!
When you go school supply shopping this year, I hope you’ll consider participating in the Elmer’s #BagItForward campaign. Â “Buy Two, Donate One” and help a child in your community be ready for school this fall!
For more information:
- BagItForward.org http://bagitforward.org/
- Elmer’s on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Elmers
- Elmer’s on Twitter http://twitter.com/elmers
- Bag It Forward on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/cbsocially/bag-it-forward/
- “1st Day†App download http://the1stday.com/walmart
Disclosure of Material Connection:  All opinions are my own.  I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Elmer’s #BagItForward #CBias.