Make charity part of your back to school shopping with these simple ways to give back.
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I'm not sure what it is about summer but my kids seem to have the biggest growth spurt right before back to school time. Maybe its all the sunshine and snacks.
That's why back to school shopping always means new clothes and shoes for us in addition to our school supply list. But for many families, including those in our own community, back to school shopping can be extremely stressful as they are trying to fit everything into budgets that are already stretched too thin.
This year our Family Dinner Book Club is focused on helping families make a difference, and this month we are looking at ways to help those in need with back to school essentials like clothes, shoes, backpacks and more. As you do your back to school shopping, here are some clever ways to give to charity at the same time.
Back to School Charity Ideas
There are a lot of ways to incorporate charity into your back to school shopping and preparations. The best part is that many of them donate for you, and often don't add to your back to school spending budget.
Donate Your Kids' Clothing
Donating clothes that your children have outgrown is the simplest way to give at back to school time. But to truly make a difference, you should do a bit more than just bag up your old clothes and drop them off in a donation bin.
Start by sorting your clothes and determining what is truly usable. Choose clothes that are stain free and in good condition to donate. Once you have your donations collected, you can use a service like GreenDrop to schedule a pickup.
Don't just toss out the clothes that are in poor condition! Take them to H&M, where they will be sent to a recycling center and you'll get a coupon for your next purchase. It's a super simple way to help the environment and save on back to school clothes too.
Back to School Shopping for Charity
Once you've cleaned out your clothes and are ready to start your back to school shopping, consider companies that give to charity as part of your shopping experience.
KidBox is a kid's clothing subscription box that makes a difference. KidBox donates a box of clothing to a child in need for every clothing box that is kept. It's a simple way to do your back to school clothes shopping from home and give back at the same time! Use the coupon code TRY10 for 10% off and free shipping on your first box.
TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. They are a perfect pick for back to school because they also give a 10% discount to students! Use the coupon code STUDENT10 when you shop.
If you prefer to shop for shoes in person, DSW will take your donations of gently used shoes and give them to those in need. They will also give you reward points if you are a VIP member! Learn more here.
Clothes and shoes aren't the only back to school essentials that give back. You can find lots of options for backpacks and school supplies that provide for those in need too.
State Bags supports families and children with every purchase, hosting "bag drops" where they donate fully stocked backpacks to kids in need.
Sydney Paige donates matching backpacks to kids in the US for every backpack sold. They also provide school supply kits that you can purchase in bulk for community giving. Check out all their charitable options here.
Yoobi has super cute backpacks, accessories, and school supplies your kids will love. For every item purchased, they donate to school supplies to a classroom in the US.
Amazon Smile donates a portion of your Amazon purchases to the charity of your choice when you link your account.
No matter what is on your back to school shopping list, you can use this time to also give back to your community and to children in need.
Our Family Dinner Book Club is one of my favorite projects. Each month, my cohosts share a book list and menu to complement the month's theme. This month you can find a list of children's books about clothing from Growing Book by Book and a mouth watering menu from Sarah at Chef Sarah Elizabeth.
Be sure to share your Family Dinner Book club photos with us on Facebook! We love to see them.
TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. They are a perfect pick for back to school because they also give a 10% discount to students! Use the coupon code STUDENT10 when you shop.
If you prefer to shop for shoes in person, DSW will take your donations of gently used shoes and give them to those in need. They will also give you reward points if you are a VIP member! Learn more here.
Backpacks and School Supplies that Give Back
Clothes and shoes aren't the only back to school essentials that give back. You can find lots of options for backpacks and school supplies that provide for those in need too.
State Bags supports families and children with every purchase, hosting "bag drops" where they donate fully stocked backpacks to kids in need.
Sydney Paige donates matching backpacks to kids in the US for every backpack sold. They also provide school supply kits that you can purchase in bulk for community giving. Check out all their charitable options here.
Yoobi has super cute backpacks, accessories, and school supplies your kids will love. For every item purchased, they donate to school supplies to a classroom in the US.
Amazon Smile donates a portion of your Amazon purchases to the charity of your choice when you link your account.
No matter what is on your back to school shopping list, you can use this time to also give back to your community and to children in need.
Family Dinner Book Club: Making a Difference
Our Family Dinner Book Club is one of my favorite projects. Each month, my cohosts share a book list and menu to complement the month's theme. This month you can find a list of children's books about clothing from Growing Book by Book and a mouth watering menu from Sarah at Chef Sarah Elizabeth.