Manna Express Scrip Program
This “market money” program serves as an important source of fundraising and the projects/activities it supports. Market money programs have become popular and effective sources of fund raising for many schools across the country. One reason they are so popular is that they do not ask parents to spend additional monies above and beyond what they might already be spending in their regular purchasing habits. However, the school receives a percentage of the total monies spent at participating retailers.
How Does It Work?
Manna Express acts on behalf of churches, schools and other non-profit organizations to purchase large amounts of scrip (essentially gift certificates) from grocery stores, department stores and other retailers. Because the scrip is purchased with cash up front, the participating retailers offer a substantial discount. Salem is able to buy the scrip from Manna Express at a discount, and re-sells the certificates to Salem families for full face value. The bulk of the discount – from 2%-15% or more – is retained by Salem as revenue.
What Does This Mean For Me?
You can purchase vouchers for retailers whom you frequent in a variety of denominations, depending on your needs. Say you spend approximately $300 per month on groceries at Dominick’s. Instead of paying the money directly to Dominick’s, you would instead order $300 worth of Dominick’s gift cards from the Manna program, and then present those cards at the Dominick’s checkout counter when it’s time to pay. They work just like cash! In return, Salem receives a percentage of the total monies sold via the program.
Who Can I Buy From?
The list of vendors with whom Manna Express contracts is extensive. In addition to major grocery stores, it includes vendors like Old Navy, Gap, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, JCPenney, Best Buy, Office Depot, Toys R Us, CVS, Home Depot, Starbucks, Dominos Pizza and more!
Why Should I Bother?
Manna Express is one easy way to contribute to the Salem via purchases that you would make anyway. Funds received from this program will go directly to the operational budget of Salem and could result in future increases in salaries for our teachers, replacing of old furniture and equipment, needed repairs and renovations to the building, and purchasing of necessary instructional supplies.
