Turn Outgrown Kids Clothes into Money for Schools or Shop to Help! @schoola #spon #clothes4schools

Disclosure:  This post is brought to you by Schoola, the best place to buy discounted kids clothes all while give back to schools in need.  Click here to learn more about Schoola.  Click here to see what people are saying.

From 1st to 8th grade, I attended a Catholic school in Chicago.  Public school where I lived was not the greatest and since I was the only one in school for part of that my parents could afford the tuition.  While the school was super nice we didn’t have a lot of extra curricular programs like art or music which I often wonder how different I’d be if they had them.  Then we moved to the suburbs and my brothers went to a public school where they offered both programs and I’d say my one brother made it through school because of music.  He was in the band and he really seemed to find a community with his bandmates.  He actually played in the band into college.  I really do think creative programs can really make a difference and kids shouldn’t be deprived of them.  Not every kid is into sports and sometimes a creative program like art or music is the perfect thing to help a child focus and flourish.

Well Schoola has created a campaign called “20 Days of Schoola” Adopt-a-School and it focuses on “adopting” a school who would greatly benefit from additional funds to bring or grow their creative programs.

How can you help?

• Shop on Schoola!  You can buy some great clothes at awesome prices for your own kids for back to school and for every transaction from my referral code, School will donate $1 to the school below.

• Request a Schoola donation bag!  For every person who requests a Schoola donation bag, School will donate $1 to the school below.  PLUS when the person donates the clothes and fills out their school information, $2 of every $5 will go back to the school they chose to support!  Its a win/win for the featured schools and your own schools!

Since I mentioned how beneficial music was to my own brother, I decided to support KIPP Academy from the Bronx.  After reading how 95% of the students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch and how so many students receive special education services, I am sure a music program can be very beneficial.  Music is something that can not only get the students to focus on something good but also help build their character and encourage them to grow.  Last I checked the school had almost 1000 pieces of clothes donated and one instrument has been provided so far!

KIPP Academy – Goal: $25,000 to fund the music program

A small school in the Bronx, KIPP Academy works hard to support kids who need all the help they can get. Ninety-five percent of its students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch. More than one in seven receives special education services. Music helps KIPP Academy reach and engage every child who enters its doors. The slogan on the Music Room wall sets the stage—All of Us Will Learn Music.  No matter what backgrounds they come from or what challenges they face, they learn lessons together that will serve them the rest of their lives.

I cannot even tell you how many garbage bags of clothes I have in my attic that my kids have outgrown.  I haven’t been able to part with them but I don’t know why I am saving them all!  I love that I can send them off to be sold with a portion of the proceeds benefiting a great cause.  It is so easy to request a bag, fill it up and send it off.  I am thinking I will actually request a bag and just keep it in my kid’s closet so I can fill it as they outgrow things.  Oh and the bags are sent back to Schoola free of charge of course on your end.  Basically Schoola is like a big garage sale but with only fabulous kids clothes available.  Whether you donate or shop, its easy to help out a school!