The concept of Bagging it Forward—donating school supplies to families in need—is just as relevant in the homeschool community as in public or private schools. Most homeschooling families are single-income and pay for their own books, field trips, and supplies. It’s a tough economy and many of these families are struggling.
If your family homeschools, chances are you’ve just started a new school year or you’re preparing to begin after Labor Day. In additional to what’s needed at home, your children may have supply lists from a co-op or other outside classes.
Your shopping trip for those items is the perfect time to collect Bag it Forward supplies.
One day per week our family participates in Classical Conversations, a classical-model program for homeschoolers. I tutor (teach) a high school class. To get to know each other better and prep for the upcoming school year, the tutors recently had a sleepover.
Of the fourteen women who attended, three have husbands who are currently unemployed or only have part-time work. A family whose son attends my class is in the same situation. Thanks to supplies that have been given to me for the Bag it Forward program, our family was able to put together four bags of school supplies to donate to these families.
If your family can’t afford a complete second set of supplies, that’s okay; every little bit helps.
I hope that our family’s Bag it Forward story will give you ideas for helping others in your local homeschool group or community. Believe me, both your family and those you help will be blessed by it.
Submitted by Dawn Camp
