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Shopping for School Supplies

(Posted by Sheri) Today started out as a simple shopping day, but ended up being a mental journey as well, pondering the meaning of “value” – as a noun, and as verb.

After spending the last couple of weeks with Miranda, creating a rather complex spreadsheet in order to compare vendors and prices for all the items on the Nzinga schools’ wish lists, we were ready to go shopping.  For many of the items, it’s more cost-effective to purchase from South African companies and pick them up once we’re over there.  But for other items, we discovered that it made more sense to buy them here and put them in our suitcases.

Our goal?  To buy as many things on the list as possible, for the smallest amount of money possible.  Result?  Success!  When we deliver supplies to the schools in Nzinga in a couple of weeks, the children will be delighted to receive:

I had been looking at this list all week.  I knew it would be really wonderful to give them all these things.  But when we got home and I took everything we bought out of the bags, I became completely overwhelmed, imagining all these books, toys and educational materials being used by children who have never had access to these sorts of things before.  It’s one thing to see a list on paper.  But when I saw it all spread out before me, I realized what a colossal difference these items will make to the children in Nzinga, and the true value they will have in helping each of these children reach their potential.

One item in particular caught my attention today as I was sorting through the shelves at Value Village Thrift Store.  Spoons.  For most of us, once silverware has lost its luster and ability to impress dinner guests, it loses both emotional and monetary value and ends up being sold at Value Village for 15 cents apiece.    But for someone who can’t afford to buy a spoon, the value of that item is enormous.   Today I saw in each 15 cent spoon the value of being able to feed a child.  In each book the value of teaching a child to read.  In each bandage the value of being able to cover a child’s cut, especially when that child lives in a village where nearly half the residents are HIV positive.   Yes, we found some bargains and stretched our allotted funds as far as we possibly could.  But the true value will never be able to be reflected on the sales receipts.

To all of you who made a donation to Isipho this year, thank you.  The value of your donation is much larger than you’ll probably ever know.

One Response to “Shopping for School Supplies”

  1. Michelle Says:
    July 25th, 2009 at 1:54 am

    lovely and meaningful words. The work of Isipho is constantly reworking my perspective – it’s quite humbling.

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