Box Tops changing format, introduces digital app
By Anna Jauhola
For more than 20 years, Box Tops for Education has benefited schools across the nation, including right here in Kittson County. Now, over the remaining half of 2019, those who clip Box Tops will begin to see fewer of them.
General Mills, which sponsors the Box Tops for Education program, released a new digital program in June to more easily and quickly submit Box Tops. Instead of having to clip the Box Tops, people can now download an app and scan their grocery receipt.
The app automatically identifies which items participate in the program and immediately credits your chosen school’s account.
“It’s a good and easy way to help raise money for our students and school,” said Jaime Peterson, Lancaster School Box Tops coordinator. “It’s going to make it easier on those who do the cutting, counting and sending off part, that’s for sure.”
Although this app is now available, keep clipping Box Tops.
As the program transitions, many brands will continue to carry the Box Top labels and allow you to scan your receipt to get double cash for your school, according to a release from General Mills.
In Lancaster, the money earned from Box Tops goes toward the Parent Teacher Community Organization (PTCO), which doles it out for various student activities and events, Peterson said.
Another neat feature on the app shows the lifetime earnings of your chosen school. Kittson Central has earned $16,252 since they started collecting and submitting Box Tops. Lancaster has earned $8,904.15. Karlstad’s Tri-County School has earned $14,432.
Here’s the tradeoff. The Box Tops currently have a far-off expiration date, but when you scan your receipt you must scan it within 14 days of purchase for those Box Tops to be applied to your school’s funds.
“It’s going to be a change for all,” Peterson said. “Not everyone has access to the app who normally would just cut out the Box Tops and send in. Plus, trying to remember to scan (receipts) each time could make it hard for others.”
Peterson said Lancaster plans to remind the public often to remember to scan their receipts for Box Tops awards.
