It’s that time of the year again! Kids are getting ready to meet new teachers, and make new friends. Parents are stocking up on sharpened pencils, new notebooks and more. Teachers are setting up their classrooms—often spending their own money for what they need.

Teacher and Sudents

Education not only shapes a child’s future—but the future of our workforce and society. During times when  school budgets are stretched and funding is cut, there are several everyday ways you can help your local schools:

Cash for Cans

As long as I can remember, my family recycled aluminum cans. We collected cans in a bin in the garage. Each month we turned them in at the recycling center, using the money to buy ice cream on the way home. It was a fun family tradition my Grandparents eventually brought to our schools. We coordinated with teachers to put bins in the classrooms. Once a month we recycled the cans and gave the money to the school. It’s a simple way to raise money for your child’s school and help the environment!

News for Schools

When you go on vacation, donate your regular newspaper to a local school. Teachers use the papers for in-class education and to promote literacy. If you live in the California Bay Area, you can set up a donation by calling 1-866-444-READ. Find out more at NewsSchool. Or contact your local paper to ask about similar programs in your area.

Nominate a Great Teacher

Visit ExpoEducator and nominate your child’s inspiring teacher! Through the program, ten teachers will win a year’s supply of Expo products for the classroom. The Grand Prize is $5,000 and a trip to an NBC late night show in New York or Los Angeles. The site also features an Expo coupon for markers (you can give this to a teacher too) and a checklist for back to school items.

Make Your Donation Dollars Count

  • A $30 donation to World Vision supplies a schoolchild in the U.S. with a backpack filled with pencils, paper and art materials
  • A $50 donation to Teach for America provides Summer Institute training materials and professional development for a new teacher. For $75, learning materials are supplied to a teacher in an under-resourced community.

Pass this on and get your friends, family members and colleagues who care about education involved!

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