The kids may have had the summer off, but I’ve still been thinking about ways to help their school.

I just put a summer’s worth of Box Tops for Education in an envelope to bring to the school open house.  It may not be much – about $4.30 worth – but every little bit adds up.

Last year, just by clipping the Box Tops from products my family uses every day, we were able to contribute $40.60 to our local elementary school.   My boys’ school raised nearly $2, 085 last year through the Box Tops program alone.

The money raised by the Box Tops for Education Program – more than $74 million last year nationwide – is used to help schools purchase new technology, fund class trips, buy books for school libraries, and much more.  The best part – it only takes a second to clip a Box Top.  You wouldn’t throw away a dime, would you?  So why throw away a Box Top?

It’s easy to get started earning cash for your school:

• Clip Box Tops from hundreds of participating products found in your local grocery store and send them to your school. Your school earns 10¢ for each Box Top redeemed.

• Shop online at at your favorite stores like JCPenney and Lands’ End through the Box Tops for Education Marketplace. Your school earns a percentage of each qualifying purchase at no additional cost to you.

• Click and earn eBox Tops for your school by answering surveys, watching short video clips, and more.

• Bonus opportunities – Enter sweepstakes to earn cash for your school.

The best part is that anyone who buys Box Tops for Education products can help support their school.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a school-age kid or how much money you make.  Everyone has the opportunity to raise money for their school by collecting Box Tops for Education.

Here are a few other ways to get more Box Tops for your school:

• Ask friends and family to save box tops for you.  Grandparents are great at saving Box Tops!

• Encourage local businesses to collect Box Tops and to use office products and supplies from brands like Avery, Kleenex, and Hefty (which offer Box Tops on their packaging.)

• Hold competitions at the school to see which classes can collect the most Box Tops.  Prizes could be special treats or privileges for the kids.

• Show parents, faculty and staff how to save money on products with Box Tops using coupons.  The Box Tops for Education website is a great source for high value coupons.  You can also visit Growing Local Learning to learn about bonus Box Tops opportunities at your favorite grocery store.

Of course, there are plenty of other programs to help out local schools with your purchases, but Box Tops for Education is one of my favorites because it’s so easy to do.

Do you save Box Tops? What are some of your tips for helping your school?

You may also like:

• Shop and Support Your School
• Help Out Local Schools With Your Purchases
• Saving Some Dough at the Bakery Outlet