We started off the year very excited and eager to storm the world with our fabulous idea and met our first challenge head-on.  When explaining what HelpSchools.net is about, we met with a great deal of incredulity.  People just didn’t understand that there’s no catch, except that you have you use it.  A lot of schools surprised us by being suspicious of a fundraising opportunity that they don’t have to buy into.  Still, there were a few schools and school districts that understood what we are doing and embraced it.  Stayton High and Santiam High were the first two schools to get on board with us.

HelpSchools.net went to a convention for the Oregon Music Educators Association, went to the Stayton Summerfest where we met a lot new people, attended the Marion County Fair, and just finished with our second time attending Summerfest as well.  In between the conventions and fairs, we did a lot of legwork.  We spoke to schools all around the Salem area, around the Olympia and Seattle area, and even got a chance to speak with a couple of schools in Michigan and Indiana.

Things have been moving along steadily, especially as more people realize that it really is just as easy as using the site and asking others to use it, too.  We send out checks monthly, and we sent out our first $1,000 check two months ago.  Last month we asked the schools what they’re doing with the money we’ve sent thus far.

The information we’ve received so far from the schools on our list is that

• McNary High School is putting the money toward new sports uniforms
• Sublimity School District has started a savings fund while they decide where it’s best put to use
• Santiam High School started with an “emergency fund” but used some of the money on sports uniforms, outdoor school, field trip supplies, and year-end trophies
• Stayton is using the funds to help with summer and Saturday school programs, as well as directing funds into the library.

It sounds very much like we’re off to a great start!

That’s what the past year has been for HelpSchools.net.  Going into this year, we’re looking forward to being at the Oregon State Fair and branching out from offering our support strictly to schools to being open to supporting music and arts programs directly.  Hopefully this year will be even more successful than last, and with your help we can continue to offer help to schools wherever it’s needed.

Brandon C – www.HelpSchools.net

With problems this prominent, and this is only the latest example, now is the time to encourage your schools, your PTAs, your booster clubs, and anyone else you can think of to use HelpSchools.net!  We aren’t the only solution, but we are certainly one of the most user friendly.  I’d love to see enough interaction with people that we can start helping out the Dallas School District schools the way we’ve been helping other schools across the nation.

Remember that schools in your community can receive money from HelpSchools.net as well! Just go to our stores page, pick a school, and go to one of the 1,000+ stores listed on our site. When you make a purchase, a portion of your purchase price will be donated to your school! There is no extra cost and it’s easy.

Here’s a picture from our donation to Stayton High School:

Principal Abdou took a little time out of a busy day to tell us he’s planning on using the money to help continue their Saturday school program, which sounds like it’s working well for them.  He went on to say that he’s been excited about HelpSchools.net and is eager to see more people get involved!

We’re just as excited as he is, and thrilled to see and hear so many people in agreement about the benefits of HelpSchools.net!

Several schools were designated as recipients of a donation, but did not meet the $10 minimum for checks to be mailed.  These schools are:
McKay High School
Scio High School
North Bend High School
Stayton High School
Sunset Middle School.

Please continue to shop online by going through HelpSchools.net – and in order to build up the amount each school will receive, encourage your friends, family, and businesses to use the site as well.  Remember, it’s easy – 1. Choose your school; 2. Choose your store; 3. Shop as normal.  That’s it!

Another way you can help is to contact your school’s booster club or parent club and encourage them to use our organization, perhaps even as their main fund raising company.  Unlike other companies, we do not require that the school or club purchase anything – there’s no cost.

We appreciate your continued support and can’t wait to send YOUR school some much-needed funds.

Thank you,

HelpSchools Staff

Here are a few pictures of us and our booth:

So thank you, once again!