Like most little kids, my daughter Vanessa loves to go Back to School shopping. Since she learned how to read in kindergarten last year, my soon to be first-grader made shopping for her school supplies super easy this time around because she was able to read from the list and keep track of what was missing all by herself.

Just like we did last year, we headed to the Back to School section of our local Walmart, but this time around we had a challenge. To fill two backpacks worth no more than $25 each with as many school supplies as $25 would buy for each one. We’re staying with one backpack and donating the other to United With Migrants, a non-profit organization run by an amazing nun who works with Colorado’s agricultural workers and their families.

Instead of going crazy and just getting whatever school supplies for the backback we’re donating, I figured we’d just fill it with the same ones from Vanessa’s first grade list. Most of the stuff on the list is pretty basic, so I’m sure whatever first-grader gets it will be able to go to school with all the supplies he or she needs.

The thing I love the most about Walmart’s Back to School section is how easy it is to find all the supplies my daughter needs. Plus, the prices are pretty much unbeatable! We were actually able to get the majority of the supplies on her list for under $25. Check out what’s going in her backpack (and in the one we’re donating):

• 1 Crayola Crayons — 24 ct.
• 2 Crayola Washable markers, wide
• 2 Crayola Washable markers, fine
• 24 Pencils #2, sharpened
• 1 Crayola Colored Pencils — 12 ct.
• 2 Crayola Watercolor Paint Set
• 1 Dry Erase Markers, set of 4, fine
• 2 Folders w/pockets
• 2 B&W Composition Notebooks
• 1 Pencil Box
• 1 Elmer’s Glue — 8 oz.
• 4 Glue sticks — small
• 1 Scissors, pointed
• 1 Post Its — 3×3
• 2 Sharpie — Fine Tip

I liked having the opportunity to explain to Vanessa that not every child is able to go back to school with a new backpack, let alone all the supplies on her list. The older she gets, the more I’m able to talk to her about the importance of helping those who are not as fortunate as we are. I now plan on taking her with me to drop off the backpack filled with school supplies.

Disclosure: As part of the Walmart Moms program, SpanglishBaby received compensation and the products to facilitate this post. As always, all stories and opinions are our own.

{Zapatos Sin Fronteras in Guatemala – Photo courtesy of Abraham Torres}

It’s the season of giving, but sometimes we can get so wrapped up in what we want to give our own that we might forget there are others less fortunate than us.

Unless you’re like my friend and colleague, Abraham Torres, who works tirelessly on his little free time to give to others. Abraham and his brother Cesar founded a nonprofit organization called Zapatos Sin Fronteras (Shoes Without Borders) to make sure that poor children in Mexico and Central America don’t go without shoes.

Back in 2007, after taking shoes, school supplies and food to an orphanage in Chihuahua, Mexico, the brothers realized the children were more embarrassed about their lack of shoes than anything else. In fact, those who were barefoot or had old shoes full of holes, tried to hide them from the brothers in embarrassment. And so Abraham and Cesar decided to start Zapatos Sin Fronteras “from the desire to give these kids a little self-confidence with the help of a new pair of shoes.”

I am proud to know someone like Abraham because he’s the type of person who acts instead of just talking and because he and his brother have made a real difference in the lives of children by giving them a little hope. That’s why when Hanes offered to give SpanglishBaby 500 pairs of socks for us to donate to a charity of our choice, I knew I’d be choosing Zapatos Sin Fronteras because what could go better together than shoes and socks, right?

So now lots of kids will not only receive a brand new pair of shoes from the Torres brothers, but also some brand new socks from Hanes. Needless to say, Abraham was very thankful when I broke the news. So far, he and his brother have been to Mexico and Guatemala and they’re going to Costa Rica next February.

The donation by Hanes is part of their third annual Virtual Sock Drive to benefit The Salvation Army. If you’re looking for a great an easy way to give a little this holiday season, all you have to do is visit Hanes’ Facebook page, click the “Like” button (if you don’t like them already) and then go to the “Sock” tab and click the “Donate Now” button. For every person who does that, Hanes will donate a pair of sock to the overall donation goal of 250,000 pairs. The drive ends Dec. 12 so you still have plenty of time!

As many of you know, Ana and I are Comfort Crew members and Hanes is making a special donation to The Salvation Army in the name of the member who sends the most readers to the Sock tab. So we hope you’re willing to click on this link and do your part to donate a pair of socks to someone in need. 

If you’d like to help Zapatos Sin Fronteras or for more information about this awesome organization, you can visit their Facebook page.

Thanks to both Hanes and the Torres brothers for all the work they do for those less fortunate!