Painless fundraising for our schools

Everyone agrees that we want the best education for our children. One way to support that idea is through fundraising efforts for our schools. You do not have to be a parent of a current student to participate in these efforts – everyone is invited to help out. There are three easy ways to accomplish this that will cost you nothing.

First, find and save Box Top for Education coupons. Box Tops coupons can be found on many products, including General Mills, Pillsbury, Ziploc, Go-Gurt, Kleenex, Juicy-Juice, Fiber-One, and Cheerios items. For every box top saved, your school receives 10 cents.

In Bay Village, box tops can be dropped off at Normandy Elementary School, 26920 Normandy Rd., or the Dwyer Center, 300 Bryson Lane.

In Westlake, box tops can be dropped off in the main office at Dover Elementary School, 2300 Dover Center Rd., or Westlake Community Services, 29694 Center Ridge Rd.

A second way to give money to your schools is by registering your Heinen’s Rewards card at www.heinensrewards.com and participating in the ABC School Donation Program. On the website, log into your account and click on “My Profile.” Select a city and school from the pull-down list then click “Save Changes.” When you shop at Heinen’s, 1% of your qualified purchase made September through April will be donated by Heinen’s to the school of your choice. This needs to be done every year starting in September.

Finally, money can also be raised by registering your Giant Eagle Advantage card at www.gianteagle.com. Their program is called Apples for the Students. Each time you shop using your Giant Eagle card, points are earned and then given to the school of your choice. To participate, sign in to their website and click on “My Account,” followed by "Apples for Students." Search by zip code to find participating schools (or call 1-800-474-4777). As with Heinen's program, you must re-select your designated school each September.

Please consider helping your local school district by participating in these painless fundraisers. Thank you for your support!

Margaret Schulz contributed to this story.