Businesses That Benefit Education

As holiday shopping rolls down to the final two weeks, consider that with your purchases you can benefit education. Schools and teachers in your local area can receive school supplies and funding dependent upon where you shop. Some stores do not have programs where your money returns to schools, but they donate to schools through their established foundations. If you are spending money now or in the future, keep in mind these five stores that help education programs and students.

Box Tops for Education

Shoppers may not think of participating goods containing the Box Tops for Education label as holiday gifts, but with the time of year come extra baking supplies. You can choose to purchase paper towels and mixes with that pink and yellow rectangle on top. Donate the tops to your local school or young student who collects them.

Lowe's

Lowe's Toolbox for Education has two goals. One, it wants to get parents involved in their children's education. Two, it provides grants to parent groups to help improve their children's schools. Parent organization can apply for grants to build onto schools and classrooms. Lowe's has previously funded school landscaping, a reading garden, and a physical fitness area. In five years, the Lowe's Toolbox for Education program has provided more than $20 million to nearly 5,000 schools across the country.

Office Depot

Office Depot gives backpacks and other school supplies to students in the United States, Canada, and other countries to provide students supplies for learning. Additionally, The Office Depot Foundation supports programs that enhance quality of life for children, strengthen communities, encourage local and international economic growth, and empower schools and non-profit organizations.  The Foundation has information on keeping technology and office spaces green as well.

Staples

Schools without funding for basic resources can receive needed materials from Staples. The Staples Foundation for Learning awards grants to programs that provide job skills and/or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth. The Boys and Girls Club is perhaps the best known recipient, but others such as After School Matters and Reading in Motion are other wonderful examples.

Target

Since 1997, Target has paid out 298 million to schools. If you have the store's card, it will donate 1% of your REDcard purchases to the school of your choice. Qualifying purchases are both in store and online. Target boasts that it gives 5% of its income to communities. This is one situation where the amount you spend correlates to the amount donated.

Photo Credit: Flickr