The Box Tops for Education program, launched by General Mills in 1996, allows schools to earn money by collecting the tops of cereal boxes and other food and product brands. Over 90,000 schools in the US participate, and the program has disbursed $250 million since 2008. A coordinator is necessary for a successful program, and there are other ways to earn money, such as through the program’s marketplace and partnering with stores like Barnes & Noble.
Box tops may mean little to some people, but for teachers, schools, parents and students, they have become a great way to raise money. In 1996, the General Mills Corporation launched the Box Tops for Education program. It was initially limited to California.
With the basic program, families cut out the tops of cereal boxes, initially just a few types, and collected them for schools. The schools would then send in the tops or small logo of the tops and would earn a small amount of money for each top. Usually this amount was only about a tenth of a dollar, but schools struggling for money could still make some money without parents having to spend anything more than normal.
The Box Tops program quickly expanded to include many other food brands and some other product brands, such as sandwich bags and feminine products. This significantly increased the amount of money schools could raise through this program. The financial results of this program have been quite astonishing. By 2004, families had been saved and schools had turned over a billion boxes. In 2008, the program had disbursed $250 million.
As of the late 2000s, over 90,000 schools participate in the Box Tops program. Eligible schools include those in the United States that teach one of grades K-8. Private and public schools can join the program, and home school associations with 15 or more students are usually eligible to participate as well. The program also accepts US military schools located around the world.
One thing necessary for a successful Box Tops program in your school is a volunteer who is willing to take the time to regularly submit all collected tops. This person is usually called a coordinator and should be someone you can trust. It also helps to make sure all parents know the program exists at school so they can start saving tops or logos.
In addition to collecting tops from a wide selection of grocery store items, which are labeled so people know which products to save up for, there are other ways to earn money. On this program’s internet site, you can read about their marketplace, which is a new way to shop at a discount for school shopping with the income you earn. Also, some stores like Barnes & Noble donate a percentage of your purchases to your school if you let them know that the school participates in the program.
While it may take some organization and time to get one of these programs up and running, it can really be beneficial for your school. How much benefit a school will get will depend on the organizational skills of the coordinator and the participation of students and parents. With many schools struggling to meet financial obligations, the Box Tops program can help provide some funding for school needs.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
