I called these people and got a recording that said to leave a message and they'd get back to me...1 month later I'm still waiting.
Any suggestions?

Hi Downrivermama:
At our school, we call our program, "Cash for Trash", the no-selling fundraiser. Our school, too, used to only get about $400 a year from Box Tops, but this is what we've done to bring the amount up to almost $4,000: We have a monthly collection date, fourth Tue., and that date is posted in our monthly newsletters and on our lunch calendars. The school also includes it on their bi-monthly newsletter. Also included is a list of every item we collect, along with its value. We have a monthly contest for each classroom. All students in each classroom, who bring at least one item, are eligible for a drawing. And those winners get to choose a pize from the PTA Treasure Box. This box has fancy and unusual pencils, pens, and erasers, magnets, and other whatnot stuff, most from OTC.
We also award two parties, a pizza party in Jan. and an ice cream party in May to the classrooms that brought in the most items total.
Our team of clippers and sorters pick up on the designated day and we visit the classrooms who have not turned in their bags to the office.(We have a tote that stays in the reception area of the office.)
I also submit an article to our local paper once a month about PTA news and include updates about the CFT program. We get phone calls from people who don't have kids in school and want to bring in items! We recently had a donation of 1200 Campbell's labels!
I don't know if this product is a northern MI thing or if it's state wide, but Perfection Bakeries' Soft'n'Good bread has a School Spirit program. You save the UPC/symbol and it's worth a nickle.
There is alot of money out there, pretty much free for the asking. It's pretty much a matter of letting EVERYBODY know what you need.

[ 12-22-2004, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: Debbie Ball-Odeh ]

Hi.

I am the coordinator for my daughter's school. We just started this year. I guess anything that brings in money and that you can advertise to parents as a "No money" fund raiser is good. I haven't collected any labels yet from the classrooms. I sent home flyers in October with a baggie to collect them from home and a large bag for the classrooms. I am also trying an individual incentive, by having the kids write their name on the back of the label and have a drawing for free movies or fast food places. Our Box Tops only generate $350.00 a year at the most.

We are located in a urban area and stores are just now beginning to carry the Tyson lunch meats.
But we figure any activity that can generate money, that won't cost parents a dime can't be bad.

Thanks for everyone's resonses.

MetzyMom, we live in a college town of less than 150,00 so the population is quite young...I'm sure the grocery stores are overflowing with frozen,fast, easy meals to prepare.

Serendipity, contests (other than academic related) are frowned upon at our school, so that incentive is out. We also have a policy that does not allow our kids to solicit and sell items, so our PTO does all the fundraising.

Our Cash for Trash program collects boxtops, Campbells, Tyson, and 4 local upc or receipts. We began this last school year and we, too, have received a small amout of Tyson. Not even enough to send in. I am going to their website, gather info and share it in the next PTA newsletter. Our CFT coordinator feels that since we're collecting, we might as well collect everything available. We have good volunteers for the clipping and counting, so she's storing and then shipping. I guess it should really be up to your coordinator.

Yes, those #'s are from the start of this school year and we did send home flyers. We run a contest for the class that brings in the most labels. I highly reccomend that for any collections that you do as it certainly will get you more labels. From time to time we send the standings home so that everyone knows where their class stands and it helps to keep the competition going.

We use to do cambells labels, but found it was way too much work for very little reward. The bottom line here is that you loose nothing for trying it out.