The average costs for school supplies every year is $35 which creates an extra burden for already challenged families as well as for teachers, who often spend their own money buying missing supplies for their classrooms and students.
In order to ease the burden of both families and teachers, school districts that are continuously facing tighter budgets, are trying to outsource the financial obligation by requesting that parents help provide these supplies.
Here is a list of Back-to-School Programs and School-Supply Drives in and around Austin.
By
Birgit Sund on July 13, 2022
May is National Foster Care Month.
In Texas, over 10,000 children, often abused and neglected, are waiting for a foster family or an adoptive home. When neither is not found, these children are having to stay at Child Protective Services (CPS) offices on cots, siblings are being split up and placed in separate foster homes or in residential treatment centers (RTC's).
“Foster care is a challenging journey that takes a lot of a family’s resources. Not all of us are called to take on that responsibility at any point in time. But if we can provide care to the caregivers, we can become part of a meaningful network that is essential for a functioning foster care system. Here are 5 ways you can support a Foster Family.
By
Birgit Sund on May 5, 2022
It's never too early to start thinking about summer camps. Especially when registration for some summer camps are already open or closing soon or when they're free.
Free camps? Yes, there is such a thing as free camps. We've done quite some research to find camps in and around Austin (up to a 2.5 hr radius) that are not a financial burden to families, especially families that already have enough to worry about.
By
Birgit Sund on February 9, 2022
Amplify Austin Day (March 2-3) is a Central Texas tradition. Since 2013, I Live Here I Give Here has been organizing this annual giving event. Amplify Austin Day has raised over $82 million for hundreds of local nonprofits across our 7-county region thanks to the power of collective giving.
Through the platform AmplifyATX.org, people can discover new local nonprofits to support. With over 700 participating nonpofits, we know it’s not always easy to decide where to give. Luckily, AmplifyATX.org makes finding organizations simple! Each nonprofit is organized by a “cause category.” You can search different causes from animal care and the environment to education and children. Once you select the causes that mean most to your family, you’ll be given a list of matching nonprofits.
By
Birgit Sund on February 1, 2022
After meeting a young girl named Elliot in Austin, Texas, who at the age of just 3 years old was battling cancer, Allison Schickel, CEO and Founder of Brobe Intl, was inspired to create the Elliott Superhero Robe, a special robe for children who were fighting chronic illnesses.
Read more about the robe and how you can donate a robe to a child in need.
By
Birgit Sund on May 24, 2021
Back in May, we hosted our first Central Texas Food Bank fundraiser and we exceeded our goal, thanks to you. Unfortunately, the need for food now is even greater, so let's do it again!
During the holidays, when family meals are so central to our lives, thousands of our neighbors are still struggling to put food on the table. And the unprecedented demand of the past several months has strained the Central Texas Food Banks resources to the limit. This holiday season, the Food Bank will put food on the table for thousands of families. You can help. Give to the Central Texas Food Bank. Because, now more than ever, we're stronger together.
By
Birgit Sund on December 1, 2020
One of our Christmas traditions is the advent calendar. Our kids LOVE to open one little surprise every day in December.
This year, we're going to do something a little different (although we're still doing the usual advent calendar) and we challenge you to do the exact same: A Reverse Advent Calendar. What do you need to do? Read on.
By
Birgit Sund on December 1, 2020
November Is National Adoption Month.
Every year over 600 children in Central Texas wait for a forever family, a place to call home. The Heart Gallery is a portrait exhibit and community education/outreach initiative that brings to life the beautiful personalities of children who are waiting to be adopted. Many of these are older children, sibling groups, and children with special needs—often referred to as forgotten children.
Read on and learn about the stories of these beautiful children.
By
Birgit Sund on November 18, 2020