Wal-Mart Makes Positive Change in the Classroom

Like my fellow social responsibility blogger Katherine Gustafson, I must admit that I am a Wal-Mart hater. Out of principle, I have never been in a Wal-Mart (or shopped online at one) and won't do so — unless my life or a loved one's life is in jeopardy and Wal-Mart offers the only hope of survival. There, I said it.

I've even been avoiding writing about the company, not wanting to publicize their ... do-goodiness (yes, I just made that up). But having read Katherine's piece about Wal-Mart, I feel ever so slightly less guilty writing about them.

All that said, I had to write this because of my strong feelings about the importance of education. Wal-Mart has announced they are inviting teachers, parents and students to write letters in the hopes of helping re-supply their classrooms for this upcoming school year. This "Write to Change the Classroom" program is an extension of Ty'Sheoma Bethea's efforts.

If you watched President Obama's address to Congress in February, you probably remember the 14-year-old girl he referenced who was hugged by the First Lady. Her letter about the economic stimulus package brought attention to the dilapidated state of her junior high school in South Carolina.

Now, the "Write to Change the Classroom" program is asking people to submit letters of 500 words or fewer to the website, specifying their school supply needs and how the materials will be used. The finalists who are selected (with Bethea participating as one of the judges) will get $4,000 worth of school supplies to the designated classroom and another $4,000 toward supplies for the entire school. The deadline for submitting an essay is Fri., July 24.

You may have won this round, Wal-Mart, but I'm watching you.