HELOISE School-supplies basket says thanks with class

Dear Heloise: I know that it is not the teacher's responsibility to provide children with school supplies, but every teacher I have ever known has always put in some of his or her own hard-earned money to buy supplies for the classroom and for the students.
This is what I do: The day before school is out, my children come home with the school supplies we bought for the year. I go through all their stuff and pick out what looks new and gently used (markers, crayons, scissors, notebooks, etc.). I bundle them up with bright, curly ribbon and put them in baskets with hand lotion, an edible treat (like tea with muffins) and a gift card to a store where teachers can buy either more school stuff or stuff for themselves.
My children take these baskets on the last day of school and give them to their teachers. It is just one way I can say "thank you" to those who have taken the time and energy to help me educate and raise my children to become productive citizens. Sara Valdes, Schertz, Texas
You get a big Heloise Hug, and I hope others take your hint to heart! Our teachers deserve all the help we can give them. Heloise
Fast facts: Recently, I went shopping in a large store that sells items in bulk. I picked up some macaroni in a large, plastic container with a lid. After I used the macaroni, I found that the container could have many uses:
UIt could hold nuts and bolts in the garage.
UIt could hold spools of thread, rulers, etc.
UYarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks could go in one.
UChildren's small toys could be placed in one.
UIt could hold small garden potting tools and gloves. A reader, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I use a 1-gallon plastic beverage jug to hold my powdered laundry detergent.
It is large enough to hold a lot of detergent. It has a great handle to hold on to while pouring out the soap. It certainly beats trying to hold on to a box, which I have dropped more than once. Mary Keller, Lancaster, Pa.
Also, it is easy to transfer the detergent from the box to a jug using a funnel, especially if the jug has a narrow opening. No more spills. Heloise
Sound off: An unappetizing habit I have noticed in many restaurants is the people who bus tables putting silverware down at each place with their hands on the tines, blades and cup portions of the utensils. Who knows where their hands have been before they put the silverware at each place?
Managers should be aware of these nasty practices and teach their employees the proper way to handle these necessary chores. Thanks for allowing me to vent. Cora Lee, via e-mail
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate