Saturday, August 29, 2026

"It’s in the bag"/ "United Way's Stuff a Bus returns to fill student book bags"


Aug. 2, 2024 "It’s in the bag": Today I found this article by Kristi York in the Aug. 2024 Costco Connection:



While shopping at Costco, imagine adding 80 kid-friendly backpacks to your cart. That’s the norm for Janet Lanteigne, purchaser at Send’em Off Smiling. 

Since 1994, this non-profit, volunteer-run organization has been providing fully stocked backpacks to elementary school students in need across Ontario’s Waterloo region.

 

“I remember my own nervous excitement at back-to-school time,” recalls Lanteigne, a volunteer board member since 2009. 

“Our mission is to set children in need on a more hopeful path, right from the first day of school.”

Every summer, Send’em Off Smiling volunteers carefully assemble and deliver more than 700 customized backpacks. 

“We stretch every dollar,” Lanteigne says. 

“Costco.ca is great for our bulk orders, and they have quality, brand-name items that will last all year.”—Kristi York

Send’em Off Smiling (sendemoff.ca) collaborates with a network of dedicated teachers who identify potential backpack recipients and provide a confidential information form with details such as the

child’s age, 

size 

and favourite colour. 

Sponsors and volunteers then fill a backpack with the appropriate 

clothing items, 

shoes 

and standard school supplies. 

“Not every family has the resources to purchase brand-new items for school,” says volunteer board member Janet Lanteigne. 

“We’re here to help as many students as we can.”—KY



Send’em Off Smiling volunteer board members Rose Borgh, Janet Lanteigne and Bunny Beaubien




I posted this on my Aug. 2024 blog post:


"Exclusive: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs seen physically assaulting Cassie Ventura in 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN"/ "Diddy Apologizes For 'Inexcusable' Behavior After Assault Video Resurfaces"



I have some school supplies that I'm selling for really cheap: I put this on my Facebook page:


This is mainly to parents and students:
I have some school supplies that I'm selling for really cheap:
28 pencils
2 erasers in package
32 page exercise notebooks
6 pads of graphing paper


If no one wants these, I will donate these to United Way at Staples:

Donate Supplies

Sometimes you want to give a tangible item. You can be confident knowing the supplies you donate go directly to students in need.

All supply donations must be new and unused. To ensure students are not identified as accessing the program, donations of corporate-branded promotional items cannot be accepted.

  • Backpacks
  • 1”- 2” Binders
  • Coiled Notebooks
  • Lined Paper
  • Pencil crayons
  • Washable markers
  • Wax crayons

Program Approved Supply Lists

United Way’s Tools for School program distributes school kits in three standardized grade categories, each with a list of required supplies compatible with participating school divisions. Download our printable list!

Drop-Off Locations and Product Drives

School supply donations can be dropped off at United Way’s InKind Exchange at 14710 – 112 Ave, Edmonton, by appointment only. Please call 780-990-1000 to book your drop-off time.

Drop-off bins will also be conveniently available at Staples locations from August 11 – September 22, 2024. 





Aug. 18, 2026 "United Way's Stuff a Bus returns to fill student book bags": Today I found this article by Rami Ostad on the Edmonton Journal:



The City of Edmonton, Staples, and The United Way of the Alberta Capital Region are once again joining forces to fill the backpacks of in-need students with the return of the Stuff a Bus for Schools program.

The 2026 iteration of the program runs from Aug. 3-28 and provides school supplies to children of lower-income families, the city said in a Tuesday news release. This year, the program has expanded to include the neighbouring municipalities of Strathcona County, Spruce Grove and St. Albert.


The program builds on the success of the annual Stuff a Bus food donation campaign, ensuring that all students in the capital region have the supplies they need to start the school year strong.


There are multiple ways to contribute or donate to the program, such as 

donating money through the United Way website 

and donating school supplies at boxes in municipal facilities in 

Edmonton, 

Sherwood Park, 

and Spruce Grove 

until Aug. 28, 

as well as at any participating Staples location.

Of most need are donations of 

backpacks, 

pencils, 

pens, 

erasers, 

binders, 

dividers, 

notebooks, 

duotangs, 

crayons and pencil crayons, 

highlighters, 

markers, 

scissors, 

glue sticks, 

and rulers

Edmonton Transit Service and local transit service buses will be parked at the following Staples locations on Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to collect school supply donations:


Edmonton:


  • Unity Square, 11812 104 Ave. NW
  • Strathcona, 6510 Gateway Blvd. NW
  • Skyview, 13154 137 Ave. NW
  • Edmonton North, 13118 50 St. NW
  • Terra Losa, 9580 170 St. NW
  • South Edmonton Common, 1960 101 St. NW
  • Winderemere, 6276 Currents Dr. NW
  • Whitemud, 2012 38 Ave. NW

Sherwood Park:
  • 390 Baseline Road

Spruce Grove:


  • 70 McLeod Ave.

St. Albert


  • 445 St Albert Trail

United Way volunteers will also be at the Edmonton locations to accept debit, credit and cash donations.


Head to the United Way’s All in for Youth website for more information and to donate.




Classroom to Corporate - Teacher Transition Program

o͏r͏e͏n͏t͏d͏s͏S͏p͏o͏a͏t͏i͏ ͏i͏u͏c͏f͏g͏i͏g͏A͏f͏1͏6͏9͏m͏t͏1͏g͏0͏f͏4͏s͏1͏g͏:͏0͏A͏ ͏0͏c͏0͏c͏M͏c͏a͏9͏t͏ ͏u͏c͏l͏5͏5͏ ͏u͏5͏0͏f͏ 
🛑 LET'S STOP NORMALIZING THIS

A nurse gets to work and hears:

"Sorry. We ran out of gloves. Maybe grab some on your way in tomorrow."

A mechanic shows up and the shop says:

"We don't have tools this month. Do what you can."

An accountant gets an email:

"We need everyone to bring their own printer paper until further notice."

People would lose their minds.

But teachers?

Teachers buy pencils.
Teachers buy notebooks.
Teachers buy tissues.
Teachers buy snacks.
Teachers buy supplies for kids they have never even met yet.

And somehow we normalized it.

Some teachers spend hundreds.
Some spend thousands.

Not because they have to.

Because they know the kids are the ones who go without if they don't.

The district underfunds the classroom and then relies on teachers' guilt, generosity, and love for kids to cover the difference.

And it works.

Every year.

Signed, Elle. A former teacher who spent way too much money trying to fix problems that were never hers to fix. 






Aug. 22, 2026: As of right now there is 

2.1K likes, 

168 comments

443 shares

I shared it.


Go to Facebook Marketplace or garage sales to buy cheap school and office supplies:

I go Facebook Marketplace for the past few days, and I see a lot of people selling things that are new, or like new for really cheap.

I was looking around for some markers.



Do you have any old markers or highlighters that you don't want or need anymore?:

May I please have them?

I had gotten into coloring.

It's okay if they are:

-half out of ink

-you don't know if this out of ink

I will take them all and sort it out.


Staples recycles pens, markers, highlighters, batteries: 

If they are out of ink, I will take the markers and highlighters to recycle there.



I was also at Facebook Marketplace to shop for these:


These are The Baby- Sitter's Club books I want:




I mainly go to those free libraries in my neighborhood "Take a book, leave a book", to see if any of them are there.


My week:

Sun. Aug. 23, 2026:


Lamis J, Nova Scotia, would like to know:

What’s your go-to way to unwind after a long day?

Watching TV or a movie

63.35% (2316)

Reading a book

13.07% (478)

Exercising or going for a walk

11.98% (438)

Listening to music

11.60% (424)


My opinion: Watching TV.


Wed. Aug. 26, 2026:

E Katie T, Goodlands , Manitoba, would like to know:

What’s your favourite movie theatre snack?

Popcorn

60.60% (2409)

I don’t usually get snacks

22.97% (913)

Chocolate

6.87% (273)

Candy

5.46% (217)

Just a drink

4.10% (163)


My opinion: I don't get snacks.  I don't watch or do anything else as I'm eating.

I'm all about mindful eating so I don't overeat. I also enjoy what I'm eating.

I don't watch movies in movie theatres because I prefer TV and watching at home.


Fri. Aug. 28, 2026:

Haya G, Burnaby , British Columbia, would like to know:

When are you most productive?

Morning

65.39% (2519)

Afternoon

20.66% (796)

Evening

9.99% (385)

Night

3.95% (152)


My opinion: Morning.


Sat. Aug. 29, 2026:

Marielle B, Saint-Hubert, Québec, would like to know:

How often do you go to the movies ?

Rarely

49.42% (1655)

Never

27.44% (919)

Sometimes

16.96% (568)

Often

4.54% (152)

Very often

1.64% (55)


My opinion: Never.  Or maybe I should have said "rarely."  The last movie I saw was Snow White and the Huntsman.  I had 2 movie passes that I won for free at my Hotel Restaurant job in a draw.


The movie was average.  My friend Cham was the one who really wanted to see it.  


Today I found this article on Yahoo.  Here are some sample questions:

Cosmopolitan

178 Questions to Ask Someone to Get to Know Them Better

Rachel Varina, Veronica Lopez
15 min read

  1. What's your favorite part of the workday?

  2. If money wasn't a factor, would you still choose the career you did?

  3. What was your first job ever?

  4. Did you have any odd jobs growing up?

  5. Have you ever had a side hustle?

  6. What would make you feel like you've "made it" in your career?


https://ca.style.yahoo.com/178-questions-ask-someone-know-175655175.html



Sat. Aug. 22, 2026 The Edmonton Valley Zoo: My friend Cham had this work party there.  She invited me because her 2 nieces cancelled, and I got a free ticket.  She brought her boyfriend and kid too.

I was there last time in 2022.


I saw the red panda on the trees.

The sea lions swimming.

I saw the birds like

-barn owl

-snowy owl

-peregrine falcon

-a white camel as he was eating and drinking



Food:

Red Swan Pizza: I ate the meat lover's pizza.  This was average.

I never had pizza from Red Swan before.

I had a small Chapman chocolate ice cream.  It was good.

They got a free bag of cotton candy on the way out, and they gave it to me because they don't eat it.


Sun. Aug. 23, 2026 Garage sale: I saw this sign and walked to this.  It turns out I went to this in mid- June.  The senior woman did say she was going to hold another one in July, but I didn't attend.

This time she sold more Elmo stuffed animals, and gold band rings.  She was talking to this woman.


Senior: You were here before with your mother.

Woman: Mother -in -law.


Later:

Tracy: I don't know if you remember me, but I was here in mid -June.

Senior: Yeah, I remember.

Tracy: Do you sell any markers?

Senior: I only have pencil crayons.


Centre of Spiritual Living Vintage Market Fundraiser: I'm going to attend this one.  

I attended one in 2019.


Saturday, August 29

9am - 5pm


This is more than a fundraiser, it is an opportunity to gather with friends, welcome our neighbours from the Forest Heights and Terrace Heights communities, discover hidden treasures, support local makers, and celebrate the creativity and generosity of our Centre.


Homemade baking, 

garden produce, 

jewelry, 

artwork, 

crafts, 

preserves, 

sewing, 

woodworking, 

and other handmade or homegrown items


https://www.centreforspirit.com/fundraising-events

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