Never Fear The End is Near!

We're mid-summer break and while you may fear the actual end of the world is at hand, never fear, the end of summer break is near.  (Tell your older kids this and they may indeed believe the end is near as well.)

To get you through the last bit of summer remember the fantastic programs offered by Boise Parks and Rec.

• There are 15 parks in Boise offering free lunch to kids ages 1-18, Monday through Friday now through August 10.
• Those same parks rotate a FREE van called the VanTastic program.  The van is loaded with activities including sports, games and ART too!!
• While you're thinking about the parks it might be a good time to give them a little love while you're there.  Take a plastic grocery bag and have your kids focus on a TerraCycle item for Whitney's www.terracycle.net collection.  Always popular to pick up around the playground for me are candy wrappers, Capri Sun drink pouches and cheese wrappers from picnickers.

School really is starting soon and the school supply shopping is just starting to get hot.  Shopko used to be my one and only store I could count on for the best prices on the best supplies like Crayola Crayons and markers.

Here are the lowest prices I've ever bought some of these items and what I'm seeing them at right now:


                           Lowest Ever         Right Now
Crayola Crayons:  .24                      .39
Crayola Markers:  .79                       .99
Scissors:                .49                       .79
Elmer's Glue:         .25                       .39
Rulers:                   .10                       .99
Glue Sticks:           .10                       .10
Color Pencils:        .79                       .99
Notebooks:            .10                       .19

Will these prices go lower?  Most probably yes.

Are there limits on these items?  Yes, watch the store carefully.  For example: ShopKo will sell you more than the limit of 4 Crayola Crayons but the 5th pack and more will all cost you the normal retail ($1.49).

Hey, these are fantastic prices!  What happens if I go a little crazy and I get enough school supplies for 30 kids?  You will be our hero!  Drop those extra school supplies off at the front desk at Whitney (or any other elementary school in the nation).  If you find a school that turns you away, please let me know, I want what they're having.

Hang in there and keep those kids safe!  Remember the sunscreen and cherish the time you have with them now.  Soon enough there will be one last summer vacation and then they will be off to college!

-Nikki Rutledge
Whitney Parent