Even though I'm not in school anymore, and I don't have kids of my own, I love to shop for school supplies. In both the big-box stores  and the independent drug stores across America, aisles are filled with wide-ruled notebooks, two-pocket folders, No. 2 pencils, and crayons.

There's something about a new box of crayons: perfectly sharp, perfectly intact, and perfectly aligned according to color. I'm especially partial to Crayola® cornflower , a soothing shade of blue. And the smell! Wax and dye and the promise of a brand-new school year. There's nothing better.

Not all families share my enthusiasm for buying school supplies—after all, they can be expensive. Many kids go back to school with last year's supplies, or worse, no supplies at all. That's a tough way to start off the year.

Fortunately, in my community there's help for those who need these essentials but can't afford them. It's Project S.O.S., which stands for "Supply Our Students." Sponsored by a local volunteer organization  that relies mainly on donations, Project S.O.S. provides basic school supplies to area students from low-income families. This year, they expect to assist more than 4,000 students!

I have to admit that selfishly, I benefit from Project S.O.S. just as much as the students do. I get to indulge my school-supply addiction by purchasing backpacks  and three-ring binders and scissors and glue. What's more, I get to share a sense of optimism with kids who might not otherwise have it.

Sadly, crayons are no longer on the supply list—they've been replaced by markers and colored pencils. But I'm pretty sure that the promise of a brand-new school year is still every box.