Ebates Backpack Challenge – Pay It Forward

Ebates Backpack Challenge – Pay It Forward

Disclosure: I was provided $25 by our sponsor Ebates to purchase a backpack and school supplies. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. #givingbackpack #ebates

 

This is our second year to participate in the Madame Deals Media Pay It Forward Backpack Challenge. I am excited to be participating again this year. Last year we filled eight backpacks for the children’s home.

Having several children, I understand that school supplies can get expensive especially when you add all the other costs of registration, fees and clothing.  The challenge was to  start with $25 from the sponsor and purchase school supplies for a child in need.

Our sponsor this year was Ebates.

Ebates – Where it Pays to Shop Online. Ebates is the pioneer and leader of online cash back shopping. Ebates pays members cash back every time they shop online as well as provide them with the best coupons and deals online. Founded in 1998, Ebates Inc.’s websites have paid over $250 million in cash to its members. That’s why millions of people have joined Ebates. Sign-up Today!

 

This year was made extra special because a friend of mine saw my status share on Facebook that we were participating again and were hoping to fill 15 backpacks. She contacted me and offered to donate the backpacks from her company Monkey Do Project.

So with the cost of the backpacks covered, we headed to the local Walmart to shop for school supplies. It didn’t take long for the $25 to be spent and my girls had items on their list that they still wanted to include which would have pushed us over the $25 amount.  Instead of giving up, they each offered to split the overage. As a mom, knowing that your children “get it” about helping others is a good feeling.

This project was once again awesome! While it does feel good to pay it forward, it really does my heart good to see the excitement in the eyes of the kids when they get to put on their new backpacks.

This year, we were able to pack 15 backpacks with school supplies!

Here is the list of items we included in the backpacks:

• Pocket Folders
• Spiral Notebooks
• Filler Paper
• Ruler
• Mechanical Pencils
• Regular Pencils
• Blue and Black Pens
• Markers
• Crayons
• Colored Pencils
• Tissues

 

This year we were able to donate backpacks to two agencies that support children in need. There is still time for you to pay it forward. Just watch your store’s weekly flyer for school supplies. If you can’t fill a backpack, just grab as many items off the lists that are posted at each Walmart or other local store.  Or if you are an online shopper, make sure you use Ebates to get cash back on all of your purchases. Shopping online allows you to just ship directly to the school in your area at any time. You can even donate the cash back you earn to increase the amount used towards paying it forward. Sounds like a win-win plan to me.

 

Then simply drop off your items to the school office on your way to work. You will be filled with such a sweet feeling knowing you have helped a child or possibly a classroom have the right tools for their job, which is learning!