Helping Children Smile with Operation Smile

Every child deserves to smile. A smile is a great joy to see. Smiles make you feel better when you are down. It makes others feel better when they are down. A smile is the universal hello. You don't have to understand the language the other person speaks. You don't even have to speak. The shyest person can smile. A smile says it all. Unfortunately, some babies are born with a Cleft Lip or a Cleft Palette. It is a congenital birth defect that happens in 1 in 700 babies. 1 in 10 babies with Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate will die before their first birthday. When the baby is formed in their mother's womb their mouth or lip does not form properly leaving a hole. Babies with Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate have trouble sucking, eating and talking. It can also lead to ear infections and problems with their teeth.  It is definitely curable through surgery. My sister's best friend in high school's little brother was born with a Cleft Lip. He had the surgery and I didn't know until my sister told me. The surgery is pretty easy but not everyone can afford it.

Thankfully there is an organization called Operation Smile who correct Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate for those who can't afford it. They go to a lot of Third World Countries where a simple surgery is not an option. Many have never even seen a doctor.  Operation Smile not only helps with providing the surgery but they also provide other services and information about nutrition and emotional support.  The surgery costs typically $240 per child. Operation Smile has a bunch of volunteers including doctors to provide these children with a smile. They rely on donations from caring individuals and businesses. I know that Campus Book Rentals is donating a minimum of 80 surgeries by June 2014. They donate to Operation Smile for every text book rented.  I think that Operation Smile is an amazing charity and Campus Book Rentals is awesome for supporting their cause.

Campus Book Rentals Review

College is expensive, worthwhile but expensive. The tuition usually includes a dorm room and sometimes a meal plan depending on the school. One thing it doesn't include is books. Parents and students end up paying big bucks to get books that are required or suggested for different courses. Depending on the class sometimes they don't even use the textbook. I know that friends have paid a hundred dollars for one book. This book is only for one class so afterwards it becomes a doorstop or something that sits in a box or on a shelf for many years. I remember when I was in school, we had to pay a book rental fee for our books. We had to give them back but really? What would I do with a sixth grade science book? I am sure my son would like to look at it but other than that it is useless to me. I remember when the school would change books, they would let the students each choose an old textbook. I thought that was cool because I liked to play school. There is a website called Campus Book Rentals that allows college students to rent their books. I love this idea because not only is it so much cheaper and it reduces clutter but it is greener. Think about how many textbooks a publisher prints a year. If it is for a required class that all college kids take it could be hundreds of thousands. All of those trees for a few months of classes. How many people actually reopen their college textbooks and read them again a few years later? I am willing to bet not many. So why not save money and save the trees at the same time. Here are some perks of the program: -save 40-90% off of bookstore prices -free shipping both ways -can highlight in the textbooks -flexible renting periods -Campus Book Rentals donates to Operation Smile with each textbook rented Campus Book Rentals has pretty much everything. My uncle was a professor at Purdue and he also wrote a textbook. They have it too. Noah would like the textbooks about Marine Biology because he is going to be a Marine Biologist when he grows up. Congratulations to all the college students this year!