Do Something 10i1—Lend A Helping Hand (NAPSA)—According to U.S. Census data, families will spend in excess of $7 billion getting their children ready for school. This year, getting ready for school can also provide teens with a chance to make a difference. As part of the Do Something 101 drive, DoSomething.org is makingit easy for teens to collect school supplies and drop them off at the nearest Staples store. “There are so many kids in America that need school supplies that don’t have them and all somebody has to do is donate,” said Jordin Sparks, pop star and American Idol winner. “It’s so easy.” Sparks, hot off her hit single with Chris Brown, stars in a pub- lic service announcement for the campaign and hopes to help raise awareness of these underserved kids. Teens could hold a movie night and “charge” friends a backpack filled with school supplies as admission. Or put together a battle of the bands, car washes or carnivals with people donating school supplies at the door. This year’s most-popular supplies feature tools, technology and twists on the basics. Top trends include: Backpacks in bold new col- ors, styles and prints. No more spirals. Students who carry notebooks featuring assorted designs, patterns and col- ors will get an “A” for organization andstyle. Desk essentials—from paper clips and pushpins—offered in fun containers in a variety of designs and shapes will replace basic desk products. Photo: Thomas Sepenzis Pop star Jordin Sparks teams up with DoSomething.org and Staples to encourage teens to collect school youths in need. supplies for Students can decorate their locker their own way with locker accessory kits that include wallpaper, magnetic frames, mirrors, magnets and dry-erase boards. Store and transfer writing assignments, pictures and more on USBflash drives that feature a soft, rubberized surface in a variety of colors. e All-in-one systems that copy, print and scan are a must-have this year. Their size and function- ality make them suitable for the bedroom and dorm. For those toting a laptop to and from class this year, laptop sleeves make transporting notes andprojects easy andslip-free. For students who want to be “green,” eco-friendly notebooks andfiller paper made from 80 per- cent bagasse—sugarcane fiber— are a good alternative. For more information, visit www.dosomething101.com.
