Who would have thought that those little pink “Box Tops for Education” labels could help local schools generate up to $2,000 per year? For those of you unfamiliar with the “Box Tops for Education” label, it’s a small, pink logo found on hundreds of participating products from food to paper products to clothing.
Though fairly easy to miss, one postage stamp-sized Box Top label is worth 10¢ for your school. Ten cents may not seem like much, but with everyone’s effort in Box Tops collecting, it doesn’t take long for the benefits to add up. The best part is that anyone in the community can contribute to this program to help our schools, even if you don’t currently have a child in the school system. Being mindful of saving Box Tops from products that you use and turning them into the nearest school can reap huge benefits.
This program is a major fundraiser for some of our local schools.
I had the opportunity to visit with personnel from Yankton’s elementary and middle schools to find out just how important this program is to them. I was amazed at the remarkable benefits our schools gained just from collecting these little cardboard squares.
What benefits have schools gained with the Box Tops Program?
Most of the schools opt to utilize the Box Tops cash option, receiving bi-annual checks in return for mailing in their Box Tops collection. These schools have earned extra funds of $1,000-$2,500 per year from the Box Tops program. Webster Elementary Principal Melanie Ryken estimates that their school alone has generated a total of nearly $12,000 since they began using the program. That’s 120,000 little Box Tops labels!
Schools put the money earned from the Box Tops Program right back into their schools through PTA functions, school equipment and student activities that everyone can benefit from.
The funds gained from this program are very important to the schools and their students. As stated by Lincoln School Principal Paul Struck, “Special activities which make the culture of each school, including Lincoln (School) unique, would not be possible without the funds generated through our Box Tops program.” Schools use the funds gained from the program in many ways:
*Fund playground equipment
*Provide birthday treats for students
*Fund many free student and family fun events
*Fund 4th Grade Valentine’s Tea
*Fund Author Visits to school
*Purchase technology software and classroom tools
*Purchase Christmas tree for school
*Purchase Angel Tree gifts for holiday season
*Contribute to PTA budget & activities
*Fund landscaping outside school building
*Fund contest entries to Spelling Bee
*Purchase bench for outside school building
*Purchase candy for Homecoming Parade
*Purchase trophies/ribbons for student talent show
*Purchase book shelves for library
*Purchase athletic equipment for students
*Assist in funding student assemblies
Do schools hold Box Tops collection competitions?
Box Tops drives are held at all of the local schools, though at different levels of student, classroom and even school-wide competitions. At the student level, Sacred Heart School’s fall contest treats the top two Box Tops collectors each from the Elementary and Middle School to breakfast with the Principals.
Most schools hold Box Tops drives between classrooms or grades in the fall and spring. Winners attempt to earn prizes like pizza parties, a pancake day with “Klimisch Kakes,” ice cream treats, candy and suckers. School-wide Box Tops goals are sought after at Webster and Beadle schools, with the entire student body striving to earn books, pencils, eraser tops, pizza parties, pajama days, movie parties or popcorn parties if goals are reached. Webster’s big challenge this year is the ultimate thrill of duct taping their principal to the wall if they meet their goal. Who wouldn’t want to do that?!
Start Collecting!
Where to find Box Tops
Once you’re familiar with the Box Top label, you’ll find it on an array of products. Cereals, especially General Mills brands such as Cheerios, Kix and Total carry the label. Many products of Betty Crocker, Green Giant, Progresso, Pillsbury, Yoplait and Land O’Lakes promote Box Tops. Products made by Ziploc, Kleenex, Scott, Hefty and Hanes help schools by carrying the Box Tops logo. You can find a complete list of participating Box Tops products at www.boxtopsforeducation.info. If you have the option when you’re shopping, pick the product that has the Box Tops label. Not only are you getting what you need, but by turning these labels into your local schools, you’re helping them get what they need, too.
Where can I drop off Box Tops?
Our local schools all welcome and appreciate Box Tops donations from the public. You can send your Box Tops to school with a friend, relative or neighborhood child. Mail them in or drop them off at the main office at these schools: Beadle Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Stewart Elementary, Webster Elementary, Sacred Heart Elementary, Sacred Heart Middle School and Missouri Valley Christian Academy. Yankton Middle School also accepts Box Tops donations at the front office. If you would like to donate them to a particular homeroom, please notate that when you drop them off.
What about other fundraisers?
You might recall hearing schools having other fundraisers by collecting Campbell’s soup labels. Some schools participate in this and other fundraisers that give the community a chance to help them raise extra funds. Listed below are some of the additional fundraisers and some schools that participate. Because the list is not extensive, you may wish to check with your nearest school for their complete list of items you can bring in to help in their fundraising:
•Campbell’s Soup Labels is a program that allows schools to trade soup labels for educational and athletic equipment. Beadle Principal Carey Mitzel states that they were able to purchase $1,000 worth of art supplies last year from this program alone. Beadle, Sacred Heart and Missouri Valley Christian Academy participate in this program.
•My Coke Rewards helps schools purchase playground and PE equipment. This program requires the Coke Rewards codes from Coca-Cola bottle caps and from the boxes of Coca-Cola products. Beadle and Sacred Heart schools participate in this program.
•Pizza Ranch Wagon Wheels help schools by giving them funds for each redeemed wagon wheel, found on select pizza boxes. Webster and Stewart schools participate in this program.
•Educations rewards are available from some stores through their online website or their credit card. Lincoln and Webster partake in benefits from stores such as Target or Tyson Foods. Beadle earns money from the website Goodsearch.com whenever someone uses the website as their search engine and selects Beadle Elementary as their school of choice.
It’s that simple!
Watch for those Box Tops labels before you throw anything away. Throwing away a Box Top is throwing away money that your local school could have earned. Ask around about other school fundraisers that you can help with, just by saving something from a product you are already using, like Campbell’s soup labels or Coke rewards. The opportunities to help our schools are simple and endless. Inspire others to collect too! If permitted, try placing a Box Tops collection box in the break room where you work to help your co-workers participate in gathering Box Tops. With a little cooperation, we can make a big difference.
One by one, Box Tops help our schools by providing benefits they can earn. If we all save and donate our Box Tops, think of how great you will feel in return!
