Sponsored post written by me in collaboration with JCPenney.

In August, we’re all gearing up for Back-To-School, and I’m working on a game plan so I don’t get anxieties this year. For example, I will try to avoid crowds by shopping early in the season and in the mornings. I’m already finding some good deals at the mall. This year I am “Pairing Up” with JCPenney! I like collaborating with JCPenney, because not only do I find affordable pieces and they have a great selection of licensed tees that we love, every year they roll out a program to help children in need. This year for two weeks (8/1 through 8/15), for every pack of socks or underwear sold, JCPenney will “Pair Up” and donate a pack to the Y to give to kids in need up to 750,000. What a great cause!

Get This Look!

JCPenney has everything from school uniforms, shoes, backpacks, fun accessories in leading private, exclusive and national brands! My son is wearing ARIZONA Jeans in the new Straight Flex Denim which I got for $15.29 (retails for $40 but I got it on sale at $18 + 15% off coupon I found on their website). I love the layered look, don’t you? He is also wearing an ARIZONA brand v-neck solid t-shirt in a palace blue color for $3.40 (regular $12, on sale for $4 plus a 15% off coupon), underneath an ARIZONA brand long sleeve woven shirt in blue checkers for $15.29 ($30 retail, sale price $18, less 15% off coupon). Overall, I spent about $34 + tax for the shirts and jeans. Not bad right? The Arizona brand is a nice brand that will last them all school year. I like basic layered pieces so they can easily mix and match for a new look. I’ve already received a ton of compliments on my son’s outfit!

Helping a Child in Need

This year for two weeks (8/1 through 8/15), for every pack of socks or underwear sold, JCPenney will “Pair Up” and donate a pack to the Y to give to kids in need up to 750,000. In addition to the Pair Up program, The JCPenney Foundation is making a $1M donation to the Y to help support national afterschool and preschool programs as well as close the academic achievement gap such as Summer Learning Loss Prevention (SLLP), Power Scholars Academy (PSA), and the Achiever’s program. You can learn more about this program by visiting www.jcpenneypairup.com.

• Nearly half of all children under 18 are low income. (Source: Jiang, Y., Granja, M.R., & Koball, H. (2017). Basic Facts about Low-Income Children: Children under 3 Years, 2015. New York: National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.)
• 40% of low income parents worry about their child having enough socks and underwear. (Source: “American Families: The Need for Basic Necessities.” A National Survey Conducted for JCPenney in support of a campaign to benefit charity partner YMCA Associations nationwide by Morar Consulting April 2017)
• 55% of children who did not have underwear and socks to wear wanted to skip school or refused to go to school because they were embarrassed by not having any (American Families: The Need for Basic Necessities. A National Survey Conducted for JCPenney in support of a campaign to benefit charity partner YMCA Associations nationwide by Morar Consulting April 2017)
• 46% of parents living in poverty say underwear is among the hardest to find items at second hand stores, garage sales or through friends and family. (American Families: The Need for Basic Necessities. A National Survey Conducted for JCPenney in support of a campaign to benefit charity partner YMCA Associations nationwide by Morar Consulting April 2017)