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Q&A If you could say one thing to your kids’ teachers as they head back to school, what would it be?

Dr. Sunita Iyer, ND, LM

is an assistant teaching professor at the University of Washington Bothell School of Nursing & Health Studies Thank you. I trust you. I know you are so good at what you do and that you love these kids and this work, or else you might not be here. I am really happy that you are here, that my son gets to learn with you, and that you get to do great work together.

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Things we love Bring Henry Home

Although the Space Needle is the first image that comes to mind for a lot of people when they think of Seattle, for those of us who live here, especially kids, the whimsical art of Ryan Henry Ward is a pretty close second.

Melissa Welch, owner of Kym’s Kiddy Corner in Seattle.

Back-to-school without breaking the bank

A sustainable approach to shopping for students

by CHERYL MURFIN / photos by JOSHUA HUSTON

Sending kids back to

school in style and with the right supplies does not have to cost an arm and a leg. Seattle and surrounding cities have long championed recycling and reuse. For more and more kids and families, that makes consignment and thrift shopping a badge of honor.

At the same time, neighborhood- and community-based sharing programs offer an abundance of useful items, including gently used clothes, unused school or art supplies for free.

Thrift stores and kids’ consignment shops not only help your budget, they are also good for the environment and local businesses. Shops all over the region offer low-cost, high-quality clothing, backpacks and other

Signing with the moniker “Henry,” Ward has painted nearly 300 murals in the city – on backdrops and surfaces including school walls, houses, restaurant exteriors, garages, cars and signs. Filled with fantastical nature elements, wide-eyed fish, animals and mythical creatures in eyepopping color, Henry art is a reflection of childhood: playful and imaginative.

For a fun family art experience, check out the new wooden Henry puzzles at Ward’s website: 3ItsAHenry.com.

Put them together, glue them down and hang one of Seattle’s most beloved artists in your home.

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CONTINUED items, often with minimal signs of wear.

Here are some re-use places we love:

Goodwill and Thrift Stores

Let’s recognize this re-use behemoth, launched in 1902, for what it is: The Mothership of recycled clothing, supplies, computers and more. There are 17 Goodwill stores in and around King County. Find a store near you at 3evergreen-

goodwill.org.

Thrift stores operated by Salvation Army (Bellevue, De Moines, Renton, Seattle, Shoreline, Tukwila), Deseret Industries (Shoreline), St. Vincent De Paul (Auburn, Burien, Kenmore, Kent, Renton, Seattle) and Value Village (Burien, Issaquah, Kent, Lynnwood, Tukwila, Woodenville) also offer inexpensive clothing and other items for back-toschool. Google locations for any of these stores to find your local spot.

Childish Things

This Greenwood-area shop stands out for its consistent stock of high-end brands like Tea and Petit Bateau (sellers take note). 310002 Holman Road NW, Seattle 98117 3childishresale.com

Kym’s Kiddy Korner

Kym’s has been serving families since 1984 and is usually filled to the brim with a wide range of used kid clothes and other useful back-to-school items, toys and all things baby. 36701 Greenwood Ave. N, Seattle 98103 3kymskiddycorner.com

Sugarlump

This Madison Park spot packs a lot of higher-end kids’ clothing — think North Face, Hanna Andersson, Crew Cuts — into a small space. 32709 E Madison St., Seattle 98112 3sugarlumpshop.com

Chrysanthemum Children’s Vintage & Resale

Located in Columbia City, Chrysanthemum stocks new and secondhand clothing and specializes in vintage clothing and clothing handmade by local moms. 34820 Rainier Ave. S, Seattle 98118 3facebook.com/Chrysantheme

Shop My Three Little Birds

Shoppers will find gently used clothing (Hatley, Tea, Janie and Jack), shoes, accessories and toys at this adorable West Seattle store. It also sells consignment items online. Or you can fill out a wish list for the type of pieces you’re seeking. 36959 California Ave. SW, Seattle 98116 3mythreelittlebirds.net

Lollipops Consignment Shop

Located in the same 1920s Burien building since 1977, Lollipops offers kids’ toys, children’s clothing, women’s clothes and maternity clothes. So dress yourself and the kids! 32038 SW 152nd St., Seattle 98166 3Letsgotolollipops.com

Neighborhood/local sharing

The Buy Nothing Project offers people a way to give, receive, share and lend clothing, supplies, household goods – just about anything – among neighbors. Families are invited to join their local group via FaceBook or the Buy Nothing app. To give, you simply post to your local network. Need something? Just put out an ask. If someone has what you need, they’ll let you know. 3Buynoth-

ingproject.org

Offer Up and Craigslist are both great options for finding low-cost or free clothing, school supplies and other useful items to keep you on budget throughout the school year. Go online to 3offerup.com or 3craigslist.org to get connected to local lists. Both also offer apps for easy phone searching.

School supply drives

Most schools are ready to help families get kids to school with the supplies they need to thrive in class. Contact your child’s school to ask about a list of local organizations collecting and distributing free school supplies for the coming school year.