EUTAWVILLE - Students at St. James-Gaillard Elementary School in Eutawville are thinking out of the box.

Principal Michelle Wilson recently issued a school-wide challenge to her students and faculty, asking each class to participate in a project to collect box tops for the Box Tops for Education program. The class that collected the most box tops would be rewarded.

When the first deadline passed and the box top counts were tallied, Edna Holliday's first-grade class won the challenge, collecting a total of 150 box tops.

Joseph Wolpert, a first-grade student in Holliday's class, collected the most box tops. Even better than the ice cream party his class was treated to, or the award certificate he won, was seeing the difference he helped make at his school, he said.

"I feel good about this project," said Wolpert, grinning from ear to ear, "because I enjoy helping my school and having our class win the challenge."

Students have collected a grand total of 628 box tops school-wide so far this year.

Box Tops for Education is a national program that, to date, has raised more than $250 million for deserving schools like St. James-Gaillard Elementary through the cooperative efforts of students, teachers and enthusiastic contributors in their communities, Wilson said.

"We will use the funds raised to purchase items needed for our school," she said. "This year we are facing budget cuts, and funds for supplies are limited. Therefore, we will be welcoming any funds available to us during this difficult time."

And through participating in the project, students are learning the priceless lesson that their efforts can make a big difference in helping their school help them.

According to Anetria Scott, project coordinator, "This school-wide project was a great challenge for St. James-Gaillard students to be part of a fund-raiser that helps with their education. They've seen the difference they can make for their school each time their family shops for groceries."

"This will be an ongoing project throughout the year, and we will continue rewarding students for their efforts," Scott added.

There are hundreds of participating products with box top coupons that can be redeemed for school funds - from cereals to juices, frozen vegetables, baking mixes, snack bars, baby items and more - Scott said.

"Each box top equals 10 cents for the school," she said. "The combination of many box tops equals valuable school supplies for our students. Most importantly, learning the lesson that the efforts of the smallest can add up to big changes (is) priceless."

For more information, visit www.boxtops4education.com, or call Scott at 803-492-7927.

T&D Correspondent Diane Gainer can be reached by e-mail at bcdthinktank@yahoo.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

You must be logged in to comment.