High Schools Counting On Shopper Incentives
Got any grocery shopping to do between now and Oct. 9? Of course you do. West Oahu high schools are hoping you’ll shop at Times Supermarket to support the 2012 Shop and Score.
Lehua Elementary first-grader Grayson McEldowney high-fives Servco Pacific's Derek Wolfe as he gets a new backpack filled with school supplies during a July 30 presentation to the school. Servco workers collected enough supplies to fill 415 new backpacks, which they distributed to seven Oahu campuses during the first week of public school. For more on the program, see Page 3. Photo courtesy of Servco.
The competition and promotion gives Hawaii high schools a chance to earn their share of $250,000 worth of Adidas uniforms and equipment – a service that schools say is an effective way to help them combat dwindling sports budgets. Now in its 12th year, the program has provided more than $1.25 million worth of uniforms and equipment to various schools. It kicked off Aug. 29 and continues through Oct. 9.
Here’s how it works: Purchase Kraft Foods (or other participating products as labeled by the store) at any Times Supermarket. Each purchase will earn points for the shopper’s school of choice. Simply make your choice at the checkout stand. Schools will earn Adidas products based on the number of points designated to them.
As Pearl City High athletic director Reid Shigemasa put it, it’s a “win-win situation for everyone.” Not only do the schools benefit, but it also allows consumers to support schools as they shop.
“Shop and Score is a great program,” added Aiea AD Blake Moritsugu. “It allows the participating schools the opportunity to receive uniforms and equipment that may otherwise have to be funded through other means.” He noted that in the past, the program earned uniforms for the baseball, volleyball, soccer and softball teams. With budget cuts this year, Aiea hopes that it can earn enough points to provide uniforms and equipment to its teams ― which would free the remaining budget to tackle other areas of need.
“With all of our athletic programs getting cut, (Shop and Score) helps us purchase uniforms for various teams,” Waipahu High AD Stacie Nii said. “It helps schools that struggle to stay alive with the existing budget.”
Shigemasa explained that the program has been a big help to Pearl City’s smaller sports teams. For the last two years, it has enabled the school to buy Adidas uniforms for girls soccer, girls basketball and girls volleyball.
“By getting these team uniforms for free, indirectly the smaller sports in our athletic department are also able to get needed equipment,” he said. This year, the school is hoping to purchase new football uniforms.
If residents want to help the schools even more, they can open a free checking account at American Savings Bank. Schools can earn an additional 100 points for each new account opened at an ASB branch on Oahu. A checking account is not only great for helping the school but also for managing your finance. To learn more about free checking accounts, visit here – https://www.atlanticunionbank.com/personal/checking/free-checking/. The school was happy for the help coming from the American Savings Bank.
“We really appreciate the community helping us,” Nii said.
“Shop and Score allows members of the community to become a part of the school,” Moritsugu added. “By participating in it, they are helping the school become a better place.”
Participating area schools are Aiea, Campbell, Kapolei, Pearl City and Waipahu high schools and Friendship Christian School.
