Local Grocers Offer Programs to Help Schools

Schools across the state are feeling the ever-increasing budgetary squeeze and the never-ending magazine subscriptions, cookie dough sales, jog-a-thons and restaurant dine-out fundraisers are tapping parents dry. But there are other ways to get donations.

Most local stores have donation programs that don’t cost school supporters a thing. And if you’re already signed up for the stores' savings cards, you’re already part way there.

Raphs has a Box Tops for Education program where you can earn money by registering your store card and then earning rewards when you purchase featured items, which are listed online. Find information about its program here. 

Albertsons also works with Box Tops for Education for its Growing Local Learning program. You can find a list of products accepted and other details here.

To participate in Vons’ e-scrip program, which has donated more than $20 million to schools, go here. Instructions are on the site. The program runs through Oct. 13.

Fresh & Easy has donated more than $2 million to neighborhood schools in the last three years. To register for its Shop for Schools program, visit its website and sign up by Oct. 15. Participating schools will get $1 donation for every $20 receipt collected from any Fresh & Easy store through Dec. 31. At the end of the program, the company will give the top fundraising school in each state a $5,000 bonus. In addition to collecting receipts, schools can have their own Shopping Night, a fundraising event where five percent of a local Fresh & Easy store’s total sales, on a designated evening, are donated to the school. 

Also of note is that Vons, Albertsons and Ralphs all participate in the UPromise program, where shoppers can earn money for a college education just by buying what they normally would. Also in Moorpark, Rite Aid, CVS, Target, Kohls and Payless ShoeSource also participate. The percent of money each store contributes, but you can see what that percentage is online. Check http://www.upromise.com for details and to register.