family donation By Donna Bankhead I
t seems schools never have quite enough money to do all they want to do. And with budgets tight—for both families and the state—it’s hard to find a way to give them more. Wouldn’t it be nice if somehow we could give schools more money without it
costing families and taxpayers anything? Actually, we can. And we don’t have to look any further than our
kitchen cabinets—and maybe trash cans—to do it. You know those little pink “Box Tops for Education” logos that are on tons of prod- ucts we use every day? You can transform those from trash in the landfill to cash in the bank for your favorite schools. All you have to do is clip them off the cereal box or broth can or any of the other zillions of products they’re on before you toss them, and your school can earn ten cents apiece for them. Box Tops for Education is a
program that’s been around for years. Created by General Mills, the program has donated more than $400 million to schools across the United States since 1996, with $59 million paid out last school year alone. Any accredited public, private, or parochial school in the U.S., U.S. military school worldwide, or accredited home school association with 15 or more students can enroll in the program (program is for grades K–8). Participating schools can spend the money they receive from Box Tops for Education for anything they want or need: books, supplies, computers, playground equipment—even class parties! You can help your school earn up to $20,000, just by taking a few seconds to clip a box top before you trash it. Now, how’s that for turning garbage into gold? In addition to clipping and collecting box tops from participat- ing products, you can help your school earn up to another $40,000
through the Box Tops Marketplace and the Box Tops Reading Room, both online shopping portals. Sign in at the Marketplace or Reading Room website, click on the link to one of more than 175 online stores, then shop and check out as you normally would. A portion of your qualifying purchase is donated to your school. You get what you need, your school gets a little cash, and it didn’t cost you a penny. Simple. Here’s how you can help your school get a piece of the Box Tops
for Education pie:
• Check boxtops4education. com to see if your school is already registered with the program. If it is, touch base with the program coordinator and start clipping and collect- ing away. If your school isn’t registered, why not volunteer to be the coordinator your- self? • Don’t feel like clipping box tops? You can still help. Sign up at Box Tops Marketplace or Box Tops Reading Room, designate the school you want your share of the money
to go to, and shop away! You can earn up to 15 eBoxTops for your school for every $10 you spend. With the Box Tops Reading Room, you can earn up to 6 eBoxTops for every $10 you spend at Barnes & Noble (online only). Visit
boxtops4education.com to join Box Tops Marketplace or Box Tops Reading Room. In a difficult economy where we need to make every penny
count, Box Tops for Education could provide that little extra for your school and your kids. Now, let’s get those scissors moving…
Donna Bankhead is a contributing writer from Boise. For more Family Donation ideas go to
treasurevalleyfamily.com.
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