There are many ways to help children in our communities...

 

 

Most of us live hurried bustling lifestyles with very little time to sit back and relax.  I've heard many people say they wish they had the time to volunteer in the local schools in their communities but they are too tired.  Well, never fear, I found a few ways that anyone that's interested can fit into their hectic day.

We all need food to survive, which means the majority of us must grocery shop sooner or later.  There are two organizations that promote children and or schools and you have seen their products in almost every grocery store. 

"Box Tops for Education" is a wonderful program that is found on everything from cake mixes, flour, biscuits and a variety of other food products.  You can turn the little pink, yellow and white coupons in to your local school or go to their website and pick a school you'd like to sponser.  If you don't know a child that can take them to school then cut them off the product, stick them in an envelope and mail them to a participating school.  I'm sure they would greatly appreciate your contribution and this is a way to help without taking up too much time.

"Upromise" is another unique program that is designed to help fund a child's or children's college tuition.  When you sign up a precentage of the price paid from products and services that you purchase from stores, restaurants and even SBC is placed into an account which builds for the child or children that you designate.  This is just one more way that you can help by doing what you already do, shop.

For those of you that believe "the arts education" is an important and integral part of children's education, "Americans for the Arts" is a helpful site to explore. All across the United States school funding has been cut for "the arts education", athletic programs, ect.   In my opinion life is more than just the basics reading, writing and arithmetic. We need a balance of many things to be complete and whole as human beings. My most rewarding and memorable experiences were when I molded my first clay sculpture a swan, attending the "Philadelphia Symphony", the ballet, school choir, learning how to play a French horn ( and no, the horn and I didn't work out) but I got the chance to try and that's what's important.

I have included links to the above mentioned sites.  It only takes a moment to see how easy it is to make a positive difference in a child's life.

http://www.boxtops4education.com

http://www.upromise.com

http://www.americansforthearts.org/