Rainbow Ideas
People across the country have been very creative when it comes to providing school supplies for needy children. Originally conceived as Rainbow Boxes (decorated boxes containing the supplies) several years ago we switched to backpacks to also give the children a way to carry their supplies and books. Here are some photos and stories from around the Southwest and here are more ideas from around the country:

Have a Rainbow Birthday Party like 2-year old Lily Kimball of Phoenix, AZ and 4-year-old Rima Hecker of Duxbury, MA. At these parties, friends brought school supplies instead of birthday presents. Everyone had their party, ate ice cream and cake, and filled and created Rainbow Boxes and Backpacks.

Pat Claycomb of Yucca Valley, CA camped under a canopy in the parking lot of her local Wal-Mart. Along with her children, she brought her pet McCaws and rabbits as a makeshift petting zoo, and asked people attracted to the animals to buy school supplies and backpacks for the children.

Southern California Lutheran Camps invited its summer campers to create a Rainbow Box as a Camp Project. Campers bring the supplies with them or pay an additional fee for supplies to be bought in quantity.

600 Girl Scouts of Tres Condados Council in Santa Barbara collected 600 Rainbow Boxes at its International Jamboree.

The Hawthorne High School Key Club in California created dozens of Rainbow Boxes in school and carried them with a ton of food on their annual trek to Mexico. The group regularly won state competitions for this unique project. Adults like to make Rainbow Boxes, too! Jo Grossheim got excited about Rainbow Boxes and convinced the elders at the Interfaith Chapel in Leisure World, Silver Spring, MD, to create 51 boxes.

You can also become a Rainbow Ambassador in your town. Lead your own charge against poverty and ignorance. Show Heartleap and tell the story of Rainbow Boxes to the media, to service clubs, churches and other groups.

Create Rainbow Store Displays in stores that sell school supplies inviting the community to create Rainbow Boxes.