Since 2002, Redoubt Elementary has received nearly $3,500 from the Box Tops for Education program.
Box Tops is a program sponsored by General Mills that gives money to schools based on how many qualifying tops are sent in.
"A lot of the local schools down here use box tops to earn money for our schools," said Brenda Bowlin, a parent at who organizes its Box Top program.
The Box Top for Education logo can be found on many household items „ from cereal to Kleenex „ and schools receive 10 cents or more for every top turned in.
"A lot of people don't know about (the program) but they do buy the products," Bowlin said.
She said the money earned is handled through Redoubt's Parent-Teacher Association.
"I collect all the box tops, we send them in and then the money goes into the PTA account," she said.
PTA follows certain guidelines regarding the disbursement of funds, and the money from Box Tops is put into their budget to be used for library books, field trip scholarships and a scholarship for a graduating senior who attended Redoubt for elementary school. Some money also is given to students in need in order for them to participate in the school's secret Santa shop every Christmas.
"Box Tops does bring in a good portion of money for different things," Bowlin said.
Box Tops offers benefits to the consumer, including monthly coupons for Box Tops products. The program also has a link from its Web site, where a percentage of a purchase from various online retailers is given to the school of the shopper's choice.
At Redoubt, there are incentives for students to bring their box tops from home.
"If the kids bring in box tops, they put their name on the back and every Friday they draw three names and they get a prize," Bowlin said.
Many Kenai Peninsula schools are involved in the Box Tops program. A full list of schools and what each has earned through the program can be found at boxtops4education.com.
Bowlin said programs like Box Tops are increasingly important as school funding decreases.
"I'm just trying to figure out how to get more money into our schools, because every time a new school year comes around, they're cutting budgets right and left."
Hannahlee Allers can be reached at hannahlee.allers@peninsulaclarion.com.
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