Grab a Carton of Milk—Give Back to Your Local School

Giving to your local school is as simple as buying a gallon of milk.

By incorporating fundraising into the everyday activity of shopping, California-based eScrip has literally made giving a no-brainer.

The program works by aligning the needs of the community with local merchants and the families who patronize them. A school representative is appointed to create awareness for families and encourage them to sign up, and anyone can participate. 

Terry Hawes, Vine Hill Elementary PTA committee chairwoman and the school’s eScrip coordinator, said the school receives between $10,000-$15,000 a year from the eScrip program. This money is pooled into a general PTA fund and used for all things educational.

“It’s such an easy way to give, but it can be confusing,” Hawes said. “Once people understand that it’s safe and that there are no security issues in providing the information on your credit card or ATM card, it really catches on.”

The process is simple­–just register your ATM, credit card or loyalty store card on the eScrip website. Users can choose up to three schools or youth groups. Every time you swipe your card, a percentage of your purchase is contributed to your designated organization.

The program works on a tiered percentage basis and is paid out in a monthly stipend. Nationally, there is a group of participating merchants who offer everything from travel and dining deals to shopping. Locally, Safeway in Scotts Valley is the biggest participant.

This no-nonsense approach to fundraising is gaining momentum. Since eScrip’s inception in 1999, the program has raised $250 million for 40,000 schools and youth groups.

A big advantage of eScrip's program is that you don't have to be a Scotts Valley resident to give back locally. Anyone, anywhere can sign up for the program and designate a Scotts Valley school as the recipient. So grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins can all get in on giving back, no matter where they live.

Safeway also recently introduced an initiative through the eScrip program that promotes healthy living. It is calling on schools to designate 20 percent of the funds they receive to be used in a capacity that promotes health and fitness.

“We use that money toward things like life lab, where kids can grow food and learn about healthy ways to prepare it,” Hawes said. “We can also use it for playground equipment and other educational information to teach families about being healthy.”

eScrip has taken the hassle out of fundraising. Parents don’t have to sell cookies or wrapping paper to their friends and family members. They can help contribute to their school by doing something they do regularly, anyway–grocery shop.

For more information on how the eScrip program works or to sign up, visit escrip.com.