SAVING BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

Students, Parents, Grandparents & Friends Can Save Box Tops

 Students in Region 15 have been collecting the two-inch rectangles from food items for years to help their schools fund items such as some classroom supplies, cultural enrichment programs, and playground equipment. Known as “Box Tops for Education,” these cardboard or paper coupons on a variety of food labels can be redeemed for ten cents each. While a dime may not seem like a lot of money, when the box top coordinators collect the coupons and send them in twice a year, each school can earn up to $20,000 a year.

 School budgets are tighter than ever before, and as Region 15 tries to find innovative ways to help our schools, one answer comes to mind: Box Tops for Education. Collecting Box Tops for Education is an easy way for everyone in the community to help make a difference in the schools.

 “Long Meadow Elementary School typically collects about $850 from September until March. This year, as part of the district’s strategic plan to give back to the community, we’ve decided to give at least ten percent of what we earn to the Southbury-Middlebury Youth Services,” said Karen Furr, LMES Box Tops coordinator. “We hope that will stimulate our students, parents, grandparents, and friends to give even more generously this year.”

 Also, when shoppers purchase products online at specific stores, eight percent of each qualifying purchase to be sent to a school. A third way to collect money for schools is by using a credit card. When you sign up for a Box Tops credit card, one percent of each purchase goes toward the school.

 “Our students and parents have done a terrific job at Pomperaug Elementary School over the past few years,” said PTO president Dana Coppola. “Last year, we worked very hard getting the kids excited about clipping the box tops. This translated to our being able to give $3,000 back to the school for a variety of needs that benefit both the students and the teachers. This is something everyone in our two towns can do, whether they have kids in the schools or not.”

 Each elementary and middle school in Region 15 has drop-boxes in the schools for the box tops.

 “Middlebury Elementary School’s principal, Jack Zamary is earmarking the money from Box Tops to purchase a fence for the back playground so balls, and the children chasing them, don’t go into the woods,” said Leslie House, Middlebury Elementary School Box Tops coordinator. “If you already purchase the food items anyway, all you have to do is clip off the coupon on the top of the box, put them in an envelope and send them into school. What a great way for the whole community to support a child’s school!”