Wednesday, July 16, 2008

***BLOGGY GIVEAWAY***

I shared recently that I have a deep, deep, unfettered love for all things School Supplies. I think that some of you may think I was kidding. Thus I give you, EXHIBIT 1:


But, in spite of what you think of me, I want you to understand that life is all about events, including opportunities to pay it forward. For the last few days, I have been thinking about this, pondering, looking for answers and ideas, and tonight, some things came to fruition.

In our everyday lives, whether at the gas station, the bank, or the grocery store, we all invariably cross paths with someone with a need. In light of some recent news in my life, I have an even greater desire to give a child -- nay children -- an opportunity that I can afford. (Thus the beauty of being single at this time in my life.) I am very blessed to have four parents (my biologicals and two steps) who all have college educations. As long as I can remember, my Mom and Dad instilled in me the desire to learn, grow, study, be better, be smarter, work harder -- to just be somebody. But in the reality I live in, the reality that spends nearly $550 a month on gasoline alone, I have some idea of what can't be afforded.

Man, I'm getting really long winded here, huh? Wrap it up.

So, tonight, I robbed Wal-Mart.

Oh wait... that came out wrong. I went into Wal-mart to buy a few things and basically came out with enough school supplies for four children. But this is where I need your help. Part of the principal of paying it forward is giving someone else the opportunity to bless somebody. So, the giveaway...

IS ALL YOU SEE ON THE TABLE...

in the hopes that you will find a child in your church, your grocery store, your neighborhood, the local gas station (you get the point), who NEEDS all this stuff to build the foundation for a good education.

But that's not all.

What you don't see on the table, are the backpacks/book bags to pull all this stuff into. When you win (and someone will win!), let me know who you're gonna bless, and I'll up the anty by sending you gender specific bags to tote all this stuff!

In order to enter, please leave a comment with your name and email. Please, please, please tell a friend too. I'll ship to anywhere in the continental U.S. Most of all... I just want to find some kid, some family who really needs this, and I can't do that without you.

(In case you are wondering, I did purchase a completely separate batch of supplies and a bookbag to deliver to a child tomorrow.) But I want to share the love with all of you!

The giveaway will end Tuesday, July 22nd @ 7:00pm Eastern time.

"For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48b

**I just realized that I did not have it so that anyone could comment. If you comment as anonymous... don't forget to put your name and email!!*

22 comments:

Bitsy said...

WOW ~ and I thought I was bad!!! Actually our church does a "Back to the Books" thing and about 1200 familes are helped with school supplies. Although that seems like a lot, there are still some that need help.

My affinity with school supplies leads me to my tradition of purchasing my grandsons school supplies every year. We go through the "bookbag" trying out, the "oh I want this lunchbox" (and they don't ever take their lunch), etc. But I always love it.

I was crushed this year when my daughter-in-law informed me that our first grader did not get a list this time, but each person was to give $$$. OH NO!!!! I told her we were going anyway!!

When we do school supplies every year for the boys, I always buy at least twice or more of what they ask for on the list and take it to the teacher. I don't know a lot of children that need the stuff, but the teachers do and it is always VERY appreciated!

It also enables the teacher to have things on hand when things run out, dry up, etc. and they don't have to ask parents for more.

I think it is sad when the parents have to provide kleenex, paper towels, hand sanitizer, clorox wipes and other cleaning supplies for a school. Says something about what our govt. thinks is important. But that is another soapbox for another day!!!!

And you thought you were longwinded!!! HA . . .

GREAT IDEA AND GIVEAWAY!!! love ya

Holly said...

Love this idea Jenn! We try to help some kids out at our church who can't afford supplies. But..there is always someone we don't know about who comes up last minute etc...so here I am to register!

Holly
my email I think you already have, if not let me know!

Staci said...

Jenn!! You are TOO much! This is awesome girl!

I know a whole bunch of kids who SO need this! I serve on the board of a non-profit organization, Square Peg Ministries (see the link on my blogroll).

Anyways, they do a big Back to School drive to get school supplies to all the kids. This would truly be a blessing!!

Count me in!

Is it ok if I post about this contest and link over to you??

Jenn said...

Thanks Bitsy!!!

Holly, I do know your email, and I'm glad that even though your church reaches out, there is always another child to help! Thanks for participating!

Staci... please do!!! Please PLEASE PLEASE DO!

Warrior Priestess said...

Umm...can we say addiction or maybe objectaphilia. I could get my DSM-IV and try to diagnose you but your illness may not be in the book yet. Anyways joking aside, this is a great idea. I commend you for it. Kind of reminds me of a woman they speak of in Proverbs. Somewhere in the 31st verse or something like that.

Kat said...

What a great idea! I love it! I'm a friend of Simply Staci, and she told me to come over and check this out.
Our kids at Square Peg Ministries would love this stuff!
I'd love to be entered. Thanks!

cindy said...

This is wonderful!! How gracious of you to do this. I enjoyed reading your blog....My friend Staci sent me over. We have a wonderful ministry who could really use the school supplies!
Cindy
gold33@bellsouth.net

jennifer said...

That is so awesome!! I am actually a Family Resource Coordinator at an elementary school in Kentucky. One of my main jobs is to help my students in need with their basic needs and I can't begin to tell you what a big help those school supplies would be. Going back to school is sometimes so hard for parents to fund and I could definitly use those supplies to help the students at my school.

jennifer said...

I forgot to post my e-mail address. It's jennifernicoleshoemake@yahoo.com

Margaret said...

This is a generous and creative offer, Jenn! Simply Staci is my friend and I, too, serve on the board of Square Peg Ministries. We know have some pretty special young friends who could use these school supplies to get their academic year off to a great start.

Please count me as a registrant for the big giveaway! Extravagant blessings! Margaret

beckbeck said...

Wow- that is so generous! I am a kindergarten teacher and we always have children in need at our school. I actually know exactly the 4 kids I would give this to if I were to win. They are two sets of siblings who have parents who love them, but cannot provide. They have never brought supplies to school.

Brandy said...

Great giveaway! I am a friend of Simply Staci and work with at-risk kids with Square Peg ministries. We are doing a Big Backpack giveaway Aug.5 so we would love to win!

Brandy
brandyhunni@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Count me in!
Love,
Mom

Anonymous said...

Jenn
This is Jenn Liottas mom! What a great thing to do!!!!! As you may or may not remember, I spend a lot of time at a inner city mission in Hamilton. I know you met some of my students at your house. We are always in need of school supplies. I don't know if you remember Jenn coming home every August to help with the Back to school Luau. If no one else comes forward, we would be blessed to have them. But please give them to anyone else first. God has not let me down in having enough supplies for all of these kids. And He won't now. Bless you for reaching out to the children of the world. Education is the only way out of poverty.
Blessings
Linda

Vader's Mom said...

I'd love to win and donate the supplies to my blog friend Jane who teaches in the LA schools. I'm sure the supplies would greatly benefit her students.

Thanks!

Jane said...

This is an awesome idea! I can smell those new crayons from over here! Delightful! If I win I will give it to one of my Crayons from last year, Sweet Mahogany. He is on and off again homeless.

ChristiS said...

I teach first grade in a low-income area. So if my students could not use these, I would make sure to find ones in my school or in my husband's school (where he is assistant principal) who could use them! What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Wow! More than just an idea, this is a great ministry. Hi, I'm a friend of Simply Staci and also member of the Board for Square Peg Ministry. Visit our blog and you will see the overwhelming need of these kids. School is around the corner and our kids will be really blessed with these supplies if we won. When you give a kid the tools to learn, great things will happen and hope will be built again in their lives.

Hazel(hasael@hotmail.com)

Anonymous said...

I also love your school supplies idea. I'm the coordinator for our church's Back to the Book program and we hope to distribute at least 1800 bookbags this year (Elizabeth's estimate from last year was wrong! We did 1550 last year.) We actually sorted and counted our bookbags on Tuesday and we have 2600!! We don't really know what to expect with the economy what it is. We may end up giving away that many.

Becky J.

Anonymous said...

Jenn, this is such a great idea! I am writing to register for a family in Romania that my mother told me about. They have five children under the age of 12 and three of them are in school. The family is living on only one income and barely scraping by. My husband and I have committed to buying some things for that family including some school supplies. Imagine what the three of us can do together!!!

My e-mail is monatmckinney@hotmail.com and I think you've got my number. Talk to you soon.....

Ramona Tipei McKinney

VanderbiltWife said...

I volunteer at this place: cottagecove.org.

And oh, how any of those kids could use such a thing for the new school year.

petrii said...

OH No am I too late?!? It's 6:38 CST but I am no good with EST so I'm leavin' a comment anyway :) I came over from another blog - ahhhh yeah I don't remember which one, but she had a link to you so here I am. I have a neighbor with 3 boys (2 school age) who could really use these school supplies. So if I'm not too late please put my name in the runnin'.

Whew I'm all out of blog breath (hahahahaha)!! I came over hear quick. Okay so anyway ~~ my e-mail petrii.dawn@gmail.com (just in case :0) !!