Brentwood gift card fundraiser to help Fine Arts program

Posted on: Staff Writer

 

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter 
 
Brentwood Elementary School is trying out a new fundraiser this year that may help people with their Christmas shopping and the school with its Fine Arts program. 
Brentwood Elementary has always been known for its music program, and while fine arts is not new to the school, they would like to enhance their Fine Arts program by launching a FundScrip fundraiser. Through the FundScrip program, supporters are asked to pay for their everyday purchases, such as groceries, gas, gifts and household items, with gift cards brought through the program. 
“So it’s dollar-for-dollar…if you’re buying it that’s what you get. Then the school gets a certain percentage,” said Coralie Grimsdale, Brentwood Elementary kindergarten teacher and one of the organizers of the program at the school. 
“We have never done it before but we’re hoping it is going to be successful; if it is successful, then we will do it again.”
There are over 175 retailers that people can choose from when selecting gift cards, including Sobeys, No Frills, Sears, Canadian Tire, Subway, Esso, Boston Pizza, Petro Canada, Starbucks, Shoppers Drug Mart, Domino’s Pizza, Best Western, M & M Meat Shops, Chapters, Cineplex Odeon and many more. 
Grimsdale said the school doesn’t really have a goal in mind on how much they hope to raise since this is a pilot year. After this year, they will set the bar on a dollar figure they hope to top in subsequent years.
Brentwood welcomes the support of the families, friends and businesses within the community. With Christmas only a few months away the gift cards are a great way for people to start shopping early. The cards make the perfect gift for those who are hard to buy for, and they are great stocking stuffers.
The fundraiser began this week and will run until Nov. 4. Order forms are available at the Brentwood school office. Gift cards will be sent to the school before being delivered to supporters of the program. For more information call Brentwood School at 403-934-5013.