Do you love expo halls? Are you addicted to blogging conferences? Does your job require you to work with many advertisers and promoters?
Did you attend BlogHer ’10?
Does this look familiar?
Believe it or not, I returned from NYC with over THIRTY reusable bags…yes…thirty (possibly even more.)
What? Does that seem excessive to you? *snicker*
Well, after last year’s experience with overflowing tote bag booty, I knew I wanted to do the same again this year…and actually WELCOMED the donated bags.
You may be asking, ” What does Frugal Friday and reusable bags have in common?” It’s a little something I like to call “Phree-lanthropy” – it means being able to give to charity or help those less fortunate without the donation affecting your everyday budget. Would you like to participate? Here’s the 411:
It’s called Operation Classroom.
Being active in Missions, I have done collections for this organization over the past 5 or 6 years. There are many facets to this volunteer program, one being the collecting of school supplies and the assembling of “Y.E.S. Kits” out of tote bags. Once collected, Operation Classroom ships these MUCH needed supplies to their teams in Liberia and Sierra Leone. When received, they are handed out to the citizens there in hopes of helping them to rebuild their societies. Can’t you just imagine the excitement in a small child’s face when they are handed one of YOUR tote bags filled with longed for school supplies? Though it may be difficult to imagine in our country, but there, supplies are scarce. For instance, each teacher is allowed ONE stick of chalk to last the entire school year. You CAN make a difference!
Carolyn Wagner, one of the founders of Operation Classroom said these colorful tote bags would make GREAT Y.E.S Kits! Please consider sending yours. You can pick up soft Priority Mail envelopes for FREE at your local post office. Stuff them full of bags and send them to:
Operation Classroom Totes
PO Box 246
Colfax, IN 46035
They will make sure the bags get filled and boxed from there. If you are feeling EXTRA generous, tax-deductible donations can be made through their website. Also, if you would like to send your totes already filled with school supplies, please follow their shipping directions. Those types of donations will be sent to a different address with different procedures.
Please help me FLOOD the Wagner’s mailbox with these totes (can you imagine 30,000 bags in your mailbox?) BlogHer sponsors gave so much – let’s give back!!
If you are sending your bags to Operation Classroom, can you please leave a comment letting me know how many you are shipping? Also, please tell all of your friends. Let’s put these bags to use.
Mailing mine this week! Between conferences and my own stash, I had 37 extra bags!
Between me and thee, we’ll bombard them with bags. Thank you!