Both Stop & Shop and Hannaford’s Supermarkets offer a gift card program in which 5% of the purchase price goes back to the school. The concept of the program is quite simple. We buy a Stop & Shop or Hannafords gift card for $95 and sell it to you for $100. The key to the success of this program is to get into a regular routine of purchasing the cards from us. There isn't any long term commitment for you and your participation can vary as needed. We just need to know in advance how much you wanted. You use these for your regular weekly shopping as you would cash. 

The chart below shows how much money we could actually raise if we run this every week over the course of the school year (40 weeks) and get 5% back. As you can see, a considerable amount of money can be raised this way. The best part is, you’re not spending any more than you would normally spend!

The money raised would be used for field trips, smile money, cultural events and to subsidize other materials, software and hardware that the school needs that is not covered by the budget. 

The program will start the week of September 20th.  

• We will be running this program with both Stop & Shop and Hannaford
• Orders need to be placed by noon on Mondays.
• Checks need to be sent in by Tuesday.
• Cards will be sent home on Wednesday
• Cards will be sent home in the backpack with the kids unless you want to pick them up.  Pickup arrangements can be made as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Q: Will we still accrue Gas/Shopping Points (Stop & Shop)?
  A: Yes - The cards are just a form of payment and have no impact on gas/shopping points. 
   
• Q: Can we use these to purchase gas at Stop & Shop?
  A: Yes - you just need to bring it inside to pay. 
   
• Q: Do we need to purchase every week if we participate in the program?
  A: No.  You purchase whenever you want and how much you want.  You are not locked into anything.
   
• Q: What if I don't use the entire value of the card?
  A: If there is a balance on the card, you can use it during another shopping trip.
   
• Q: Can I order different denominations?
  A: When you place your order, you will indicate how many of each denomination you want.  So you can get one $100 card or two $50 cards or whatever combiantion you choose.  You will be able to order cards in the following denominations: $50, $100.
   
• Q: Will the cards be sent home activated?
  A: The cards will be sent home "activated" which means they are the same as cash.  If we track the card numbers, there would be a way that we could deactivate an unused/lost card.  As the program starts, we will be looking into the feasability of tracking all of the card numbers.  Initially, specific card numbers will not be tracked unless someone volunteers specifically for this.
   
• Q: Will credit cards be accepted?
  A:Initially, we will only work with cash & check.  We are working on a credit card process and will notify you as soon as one becomes available. There will be a "minimum purchase" with the credit card orders but that amount has not been decided yet.
   
• Q: What will the process be to ensure that all money & cards are accounted for?
  A: There are multiple ways in which the program will be monitored.  First and foremost, each participant will need to make sure that they get what they paid for.  The expectation is that the MSPA will not be hanging onto to cards for an extended period of time. Second, the money will be collected by the administrator and forwarded to the Treasurer.  Lastly, the program administrator(s) will be responsible for keeping track of orders and deliveries. We welcome input/assistance to help keep the program secure.
  
• Q: How do we sign up?
  
  • Register for the website or log in.
  • Go to edit/update your profile
  • Click on the Manage Services link
  • Click on "Subscribe" next to the Grocery Card Program.
    
    This will enable us to send you emails and reminders about the program easily.
     
• Q: What will the process be?
  A: Below is a summary of the current plan:
• Participant registers for the program and receives a unique envelope specific to them.
• Participant places an order online at www.mulreadymspa.com indicating how much they want to purchase.
• Participant sends in their envelope to school with their payment inside it.
• Online orders are matched up with incoming envelopes & payments.
• Cards are sorted into the envelopes and put nto teacher mailboxes. 
• An email to participants is sent the day that the cards are deliverd to the teachers so that they know to check the backpack to get the card.

We welcome your suggestions on how to make this process better, safer and more efficient.  Please contact Jessica Hennessey at jmhennessey@verizon.net for more information or to volunteer to help.  If you are ready to sign up for this program, please register for the website and indicate that on your registration form.  If you have already registered, click on your name at the top of the screen and click on the Manages Services link at the top of your profile page.  You can then "subscribe" to the program.