Free Friday: Money for our Schools

"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation."
                                                                                                      --John F. Kennedy

We are all responsible for the education of the next generation.  Wether you have children in school now or not by supporting public education we will help to build a better society.

Did you know that a lot of items you are throwing away can be used by your local schools? Box Tops for Education, Campbell's Labels for Education, plastic shopping bags, empty ink and toner cartridges, old cell phones, Cream of Weber Milk Caps, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, and phone books.  These are the things my daughter's elementary school can use to get money for the school.

A few words on each of these programs.

Box Tops for Education are little pink labels you can find on the top of a number of name brand products.  General Mills Cereal and Granola bars, Scott Toilet Paper and Paper Towels, Kotex Pads and Tampons, Yoplait kids pack yogurt, and Chex Mix are just a few of the products at my house that bear this label.  Simply clip and turn in to your school.  They get 10 cents for each label they turn in.  My mother's class made over $200 last year this way.

Campbell's Labels for Education is a similar program.  You find these labels on all Campbell's Soup, Prego Pasta Sauces, Swanson Broth's, and Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, just to name a few.  All you need to do is clip the UPC's with the cute Labels for Education kid and send them into the schools.

Wal-Mart Kids Recycling Challenge is where the plastic shopping bags go.  The schools fill a big green box with all the bags they can (no black bags) and get $5 for each.  They also compete against other schools in the area for more prize money.  If you're like me, your pantry is overflowing with these bags.  I'm pretty sure I could fill a box on my own.  Send them to the schools!

Empty Ink and Toner Cartridges as well as old cell phones are recycled by the schools for extra funds.  Just send to the school in a plastic baggie.

Cream of Weber Milk Caps work like the labels.  The school will turn these in for 5 cents each.

Most Schools also have a large dumpster for their paper recycling needs.  They get cash for this too!  They are more than happy for you to add your own magazines, newspapers, junk mail or phone books to their dumpsters.

This is all super easy if you have grade school kids, but what if you don't?  Just find a neighbor kid that you can send all your stuff with.  Give the recyclables and labels to your grandkids.  Or, take your collection in to you nearest school.  Give your local schools a call and see what programs they participate in.  Every little bit helps our schools.

Remember, supporting and helping to fund education not only helps the kids, but also improves society as a whole.  Start saving your stuff today and give our schools some "Free" money.