For some, convenience tops cost for supplies
Parents who enjoy the tradition of back-to-school shopping may be looking forward to checking off each purchase on their children’s school supply lists.
And Tennessee’s Tax Free Weekend, which offers clothes and supplies with no sales tax today through Sunday, adds an extra element of excitement.
Or maybe dread — depending on your crowd-negotiating skills.
But not all parents are shopping at retail stores for supplies. Some schools and businesses offer other options.
The PTA at Silverdale Baptist Academy partners with an online company to give parents the option of providing school supplies with no shopping required.
“This is a beautiful thing that works well for us,” says Christie Johnson, Silverdale’s director of advancement.
The school gives the company a list of supplies needed, according to the student’s grade level, and the company
sends them. The parent simply pays the fee. It’s a little more than than what bargain hunters might spend, but the trade-off is convenience. When school starts, the appropriate supplies will be on the child’s desk.
“Instead of going to 14 different stores to find the exact eraser, everything is in there. Parents love it,” says Johnson.
School officials were “skeptical” at first because they wanted to make sure the kids got exactly what they needed.
“It has been fabulous,” says Johnson.
Another option for busy families is curbside service, offered at Walmart stores.
Parents place an order online and choose a pickup time. Walmart employees gather the items and load them in your car. The service is provided at no additional charge with a $30 minimum order.
Prepackaged backto-school supplies are also offered on sites like EduKitInc.com and EZSchoolSupplies. com.
The website 1st Day School Supplies (1stDaySchoolSupplies.com) already has schools like Boyd-Buchanan, Brainerd Baptist and Girls Preparatory schools in their system. School PTAs sign up to participate, and the exact supplies requested by the teachers are delivered to the students’ home or school, depending on the plan.
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@ timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.