I really can not believe that my little Alleigh will be starting pre-kindergarten next week.  It seems like only yesterday I was waking up in the wee hours of the night to nurse her and change her diapers.  And now she’s potty trained, uses “big kid” cups, and is going to school!!  Yes, I have shed quite a few tears over this already – in fact I feel them welling up in my eyes just typing this – and I am sure that the first day of school will not be any easier.  In preparation for her first day of school I let Alleigh know we would be going shopping for a few new outfits, shoes, and the list of school supplies we received from her teacher.

But something else that makes me sad is that many parents don’t have the financial ability to purchase these back to school items for their children – and it’s most likely not because they don’t want to, but other circumstances that just prevent them from purchasing these necessary school supplies let alone new clothes or shoes.  Luckily there are organizations out there that can help parents and children out that find themselves in these situations such as the Boys and Girls Club of America!  In fact they have partnered with a few different companies to help provide school supplies for children in need this year and you can help too….. 

Disney has partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for the first way you can help that will cost you absolutely nothing out of pocket.  All you have to do is play the pop-quiz style game “Tools for Back to School” and for every correct answer you score school supplies will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of America!

The second way you can help is to go shopping.  Yup, you read that right.  The Boys and Girls Clubs of America have partnered with JCPenney and throughout August you can join JCP Cares to round up your purchases at the register to benefit the BGCA!  This means when you go shopping for all those new school clothes and shoes for the kiddos in your life you will also be helping those less fortunate out as well.

Oh and I want to tell all those parents out there with kids heading back to school about the tip sheets and educational content on the Boys and Girls Clubs of America website that you can download and utilize.  You can find them on the left hand side of the BGCA website under the “Get Ready” header.  There you can find lots of great information and it’s definitely worth taking a moment to check out.

And with that….. next week my baby officially becomes a school-ager.  Eeeek.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Boys and Girls Club. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.