Originally Posted by
BarbaraSTX
Went to Wal-Mart with a list of school supplies for my grandchildren. I only got about half of what was on the list and spent $86. What in the world do parents with 4 or 5 kids do?
Several parishes (counties) around here have drives called School Bus drives (Stuff the Bus). A large school bus parks in a parking lot (perhaps at a Walmart, downtown, or anyplace where people can easily bring donations). When the bus is full (to the brim!) Another bus drives up and it goes on until nighttime. They will fill sometimes 7 or 8 busses during one drive. Many stores also have school supply drives where donations fill shopping carts. We have very generous people who want our kids to have what they need. The school supplies are donated to local schools.
That being said: for 33 years I purchased classroom school supplies to be sure that the kids in my class had what they needed when supplies ran short. It was part of my "household budget." I'm not sorry I did it.