Get Gutzy, our family's chance to pay it forward during back to school season

While many families are excited to go back to school, it can be a daunting time for teachers and other families. The numerous store adds show many sales and specials on school supplies. Unfortunately, there are many kids that can't afford to buy all the required supplies. In some cases, teachers offer to supplement the supplies by purchasing products out of their own pocket.


In my sons' classes, many of the school supplies are pooled together for group use. In these scenarios, the haves and have nots aren't as noticeable to the kids. But I have seen many of the teachers go out and buy additional supplies for the kids in need. This year, with a little help from Gutzy Gear, our family wanted to assist the kids classrooms so no one would go without.

If you aren't familiar with Gutzy Gear, it is a company that gives kids a way to customize their backpacks, sports bags and more. Gutzies are removable patches that add flair to your bags.

Gutzy Gear wanted to pay it forward this school year. Our family was given $25 to spend on school supplies. These supplies ere donated to a needy person, family or organization of our choice.

With a little planning, you can get a lot of school supplies for $25. Through big box store sales, office supply companies and the price match policies, you can stock 2 backpacks full of supplies for the school year.

Here's what we got
2 backpacks
6 packages of pens
8 packages of crayons
2 packages of pencils
4 packages of colored pencils
10 single subject notebooks
2 packages of glue sticks
2 packages of tissues
2 pencil boxes
2 pencil erasers

TOTAL Spent = $27.49.

So, I went a little over the $25. Also, we donated a bunch of other supplies too. The purpose of this activity is to give back and pay it forward. I think that we worked toward that goal.

After filling each backpack with the supplies, we brought the backpacks to my sons' teachers on the first day of school. I knew one of the teachers and she was delighted to have the extra supplies in her classroom. When I handed her the backpack, she smiled and said that she didn't have to go shopping that night to supplement the missing classroom supplies.

With the other teacher, who I just met, she was astonished. She thought that the backpack was for my son and wanted to help put the supplies in his desk. We explained what we did and she was shocked. A few days later I received the nicest note from her. It seems that there were a few new students in my son's class that didn't have any supplies. The backpack went directly to those kids. It was so touching to see an immediate impact of paying it forward.

My boys and I talk about the idea of paying it forward and charity often. The smiles on the boys faces when they gave the backpacks was a precious back to school moment. I couldn't think of a better way to start the new school year.

So if you are getting ready to send the kids back to school in the next couple of weeks, think about buying an extra box of crayons or a few extra notebooks. The thoughtfulness of paying it forward can add a spark to the start of the new year.



Disclosure: I received a $25 from a Gutzy Gear to spend on school supplies which were donated to an elementary school. I was not compensated for this post.

6 comments:

  1. It truly is a great feeling to give back to others. I've been picking up extras with the super sale pricing at the stores and find it really helps with what we can give.

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  2. I love the super affordable sales that come around this time of year on pens, pencils, erasers, markers, crayons etc. It's a great way to pay it forward without spending a ton of money.

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  3. This is so great! You got tons of great supplies and made a difference! I love it!

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  4. I love that Gutzy Gear is helping to pay it forward like this. Our backpacks this year are covered in Gutzy Gear!

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  5. Nice job! I love that you did 2 backpacks!

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  6. Great job! It is such a small thing to do with such big rewards. :)

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