I have been touched directly in my heart by the “Bag It Forward” Project that I am working on with Elmers.  I am collecting school supplies and backpacks to pass out to at least 50 kids (my goal) around the Pittsburgh area the 2nd week in Aug.

I have a wonderful crew lined up to help me and I already started getting donations in from people to help out.

I bought some 25 cent boxes of crayola crayons today too to put in younger kids backpacks.

I am so excited. And heart touched by the out pouring of love from people willing to help.

This being said, I was driving today and thinking about the whole project. And, I was thinking about stories I have seen on television or read on blogs or in newspapers that have impacted me. After all, I am bagging forward 50 backpacks but I am praying it doesn’t stop with me. I want this project to touch others and to spread like wildfire all over the USA. If everyone who was able could donate even 1 backpack of school supplies to 1 child, it would make a world of difference. So I was thinking to myself, and  I thought, Self ; (lol) what would Anderson Cooper do to get the point across. What would he do to show people that a small help can make a huge difference ?

Well, I thought about Haiti and how he went out into the field, as reporters do, He went directly to the people,  and he showed you the children and the people, and told the peoples life stories.

THAT MAKES AN IMPACT.

So, I was going to go through some agencies to make this handing out of backpacks work, but after deep thoughts today, I have decided to choose 4 Housing Projects in and around Pittsburgh to go directly to, I know children will be playing outside, and hand out some backpacks to them. Housing Projects are where people in need live. It is Public housing for people in need, so these are the families who are struggling for various reasons and need help.

I want to ask some people for their stories, whether on camera or not, I want (with parent permission) to show you the smiles on the kids as they get their back packs. I want to show them that people DO care and are here to help.

I think it will be a more random act of kindness by doing it this way as well.

I want to tell the stories about mom or dad who lost their income/job. I want to tell the stories of single moms who need help, and I want to show people that it isn’t that these people don’t want to buy school supplies for their kids, they just CAN’T.

I also have a friend, who is a police officer in one of the towns where there are 2 sets of housing projects I will be travelling to, and I am going to ask him if he can maybe go with me. Not for my protection, heck, I used to hang out in projects when I was a teen, but to let parents and kids know we are legit/safe and not there to scare the kids, or trying to lure them with our backpacks, lol  (people can misconceive things at time, esp. when they get something free that maybe too good to be true).

So, I love that I am going to be going directly to these children and families and bringing the stories to you.  I am very excited. I love giving things away, which is one favorite thing about my blog (holding giveaways) too. I love making a difference and I love helping people and “Paying It Forward” – and in this case, “Bagging It Forward”.

Keep watching my blog to see these stories come to life. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure – I am being  compensated for my participation in this campaign . Views expressed here are my own. Some of my compensation WILL be given back to make a difference in 50 children’s lives.

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