Crayons.  The smell transports me immediately back to kindergarten. The excitement of a fresh box was enough to make me giddy. Looking back, I know that when I was in kindergarten I didn’t appreciate how much that box of crayons cost, but today, I got to see what a difference a free box of crayons and school supplies can do for a family in need.

This morning, my 11-year-old daughter, her friend and I, along with a few Envysion colleagues, volunteered for Growing Home, an organization that helps families in need. Growing Home’s web site has some alarming statistics:

Today, more and more hard working, suburban families struggle to make ends meet. A modest 2 bedroom apartment demands a market value of $832 per month in our metro area. With child care costs, health care, groceries and transportation, a family must earn at least $16.00 an hour to afford rent and care for just one preschooler. A single parent with a minimum wage job and one four year old would need to work 133 hours per week just to afford the basics. Growing Home, together with a network of community supporters and volunteers, provides crucial support services that help families get back on their feet and on the path to success.

The part we played to help today seemed small. Still, it felt like we did a little bit to help a few hundred kids get ready for school. It was a reality check for my daughter and her friend as well. When they open their new notebooks as the school year begins, they may have a deeper appreciation for the fact that they got to choose their favorite color with the coolest features, instead of getting what was available for free.