College of Education News

As he filled his reusable grocery bags and collected the rebate offered by his local store for using the eco-friendly bags, Brad Kose, an Assistant Professor at the College of Education, was reminded of his long-held goal. Over the last several years he'd often seen such bag credits donated for use in charities and other worthy causes, and the thought had dawned on him to pair this rebate system with environmental initiatives in public schools. Inspired and optimistic, Kose set his plan in motion to form "Choose to Reuse - Pennies for Education".

"I initially thought of starting a non-profit organization," said Kose, who soon realized he would much rather share the idea with local school districts to make the biggest environmental and educational impact. As a result Kose contacted Gail Rost, the Executive Director at the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation (CUSF).

Rost enthusiastically began to explore options through the Foundation. "Many of the stores here in Champaign Urbana already give cash rebates back to the customer for reusing bags," said Rost. "Why not have the customer donate their rebate to a worthy cause?"

This past March, the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation and Jerry's IGA implemented the Pennies for Education program that Kose had envisioned. For each reusable grocery bag used when shopping at Jerry's IGA in Champaign, 5¢ is deducted from the cost of the groceries and an additional 5¢ is donated to the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation. The funds raised during the program will support a "Green Project" in local public school classrooms to teach young students how to be environmentally conscious in their everyday lives.

Both Kose and Rost were pleasantly surprised when Jerry's IGA in Champaign was not only willing to participate in the program, but also to train staff and pay for marketing to raise awareness. Moreover, the store raised their rebate from 3¢ to 5¢ per reusable bag used at checkout.

All pennies raised will be donated to the CUSF "to support a grant to a teacher at one of our schools who will bring a 'green' project into her or his classroom," according to Rost. The selection process will be competitive with interested teachers applying for the grant.

In the short term, Pennies for Education hopes to raise $500 in grant money in the next few months for the school system, but Kose and Rost have more lofty goals for the project. "We hope to add a second set of stores soon so that Urbana and Savoy customers can also help benefit the project," said Rost.

"Ultimately, I think students, teachers, and schools could engage in some very beneficial and wide-reaching environmental projects with this kind of funding," adds Kose. "When you think about the geo-political environmental challenges we are facing nationally and globally, I think we should do everything possible to support the education of future citizens who are prepared to understand and address these and other complex social challenges."

Jerry's IGA has attracted hundreds of new customers and expects customer usage of reusable grocery bags to increase significantly in the first few months since the program's inception. "Habit plays a big part in the change," said Rost. "All that's needed is the incentive for behavior change." Once the public realizes how easy it is to buy a few reusable tote bags, keep them in their car, and use them every time they grocery shop, Rost said she hopes Pennies for Education will spur a long-lasting positive change in Champaign Urbana.

The program has been so well-received, in fact, that the Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School Academic Foundation, located about 90 minutes north of Champaign, in Bradley, Ill., has begun to set up their own Pennies for Education project. Helen Boehrnsen, a student of Kose's and the Curriculum Director of the Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, presented the program to the Academic Foundation. "The Board will meet next week to begin planning and implementation," said Jennifer Huggins, president of the non-profit organization. "We're very impressed with this project concept and hope to begin working with local stores shortly."

To get involved, visit the IDEA Store on the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation Web site at www.CUSchoolsFoundation.org to purchase reusable grocery bags in conjunction with the Pennies for Education program. CUSF grocery bags can also be purchased at the CUSF offices at 303 W. Green Street in Urbana, or Jerry's IGA also offers eco-friendly bags at their stores. The CUSF and Pennies for Education are also planning to attend the Urbana Farmers Market at the Square this summer at Lincoln Square Mall with more information about the program.

"Pennies for Education is in many ways about numbers," Kose said, adding that every cent makes an impact. "A few people participating won't make a big difference, but a large number of people participating would create a substantial and ongoing source of funding for environmental education in local schools."