Putting Them All Together

With supplies complete, we are now ready to start preparing the packages. 

First off, we needed to remove all price tags and markings from everything. Next, we laid all supplies on the floor, and grouped them according to kind:

Our little boy went crazy at the sight of all these supplies, and had his heart set on the scissors, lol. In the end, we exchanged his own for the one he wanted: red scissors!

He also wanted to help! In the end, he was the one who counted out and handed me the items I needed to put into the bags and envelopes. He also helped to carry the completed packages from the floor and up to the large sofa. While it took longer with the little boy's "help", it was all worth it! 

Based on Gwen's recommendation, we only put one of each of several items into the bags and envelopes and compiled the rest and gave them as extra supplies. Gwen mentioned that when the children run out of supplies, all they have to do is go to their caretakers and ask for replenishment. This way, supplies are not wasted.  

Each bag or envelope contained supplies specific to the grade level of the kid. Even the bags were personalized: dark colored superhero and animal backpacks for pre-elementary boys, pink ones for the girls; sports bags in the appropriate color for the intermediate levels, and black tote bags for the girls. 

 

 

 

Assorted illustrated storybooks and a few science and history books were given to pre-elementary and elementary kids from Grades 1 to 3, while pocket dictionaries were provided to intermediate levels: 

 

Initially I thought of utilizing the bags already, by putting all supplies like pens, crayons, erases, writing pads and notebooks in the bags already. But after doing up a few, it turned out to be more bulky, and presented a challenge in pairing the plastic envelope with the appropriate bags, where we would have needed to prepare two labels per package. 

In the end, since the backpacks were small enough to fit the plastic envelopes, I decided to put everything into the plastic envelopes and just include the bag in the envelopes: less bulky, easier to track and carry. 

With everything all packaged up, we are now ready for distribution!