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The  Awesome and Awe-Inspriring Curriculum Exchange!

 
Where we used to live in Michigan, we weren’t far from a spot called “The Homeschool Building” near Grand Rapids. This wonderful establishment was affiliated with a church and housed a library, classrooms for co-ops, and a wonderful homeschool bookstore – complete with a used homeschool resources area. That area was my dream; I went there first to see if I could find a resource for cheap. If not, then I hit the store and bought new.  The resources were donated by local Christian schools or  homeschoolers who no longer needed the materials.

 
From the moment I found this place, I felt blessed. Homeschool can get pricey if you let it, and this was a way to obtain some material that otherwise I may not have been able to afford otherwise.

 
When we moved, I was sad to lose this place. I couldn’t find much used homeschool curriculum outside of the internet – and with that one always incurs those shipping charges.

 Present Day: I am working with a local co-op under the shelter of a nearby church. I received an email from a friend from this co-op about a curriculum exchange in our area. An exchange? Does that mean you donate and then get to pick stuff? I contacted the organizer of the exchange, and while she would LOVE for me to donate if I had stuff, it was not required. I could come and pick out whatever I needed from whatever was available.

 
I arrived bright and early Saturday morning, and she was there with some other customers, if they can be called that.  She had converted a one-car garage into a small “store,” complete with inexpensive metal shelving. Each section was organized by grade, then by subject. It was completely reminiscent of that Homeschool Building back in Michigan!  Excitement coursing through me, I hit the bookshelves and took home a whole box of goodies.

 
But I also believe in giving back, so I donated my box of preK-2 books. I asked her about why she did this, mostly because I had been thinking of doing something similar for a while, but between the kids, work, and moving, it just hadn’t happened yet.  I asked if it was like missionary work for her. She said, “Exactly.” She felt called to do this for homeschoolers who sometimes don’t have the funds to get the materials they need, and for those who have great resources and either don’t want to sell them or want to help out others. To me, and probably to many other homeschooler out there, this mission is one of the most blessed of missions available.

 
I understand how that works – I look at my bookshelves, crammed with books, notebook, texts, literature, and wonder what I will do with these when I am finished homeschooling. This exchange struck a chord with me, and I told this wonderful lady that if she ever needs help, please call me. And if you ever need curriculum and you live in the Inland Empire, contact me – and I’ll get you in touch with the wonderful Curriculum Exchange.