TJ and Toot Sward back turning grocery receipts into school supplies

TJ and Toot Sward are back tallying Harvest Foods receipts for their fifth school year, hoping to top $396,278.91 raised for Bigfork Schools last season.  

Bigfork Elementary and Middle School secretary Carol Venegas said the school has been collecting Harvest Foods receipts for over a decade through the Register Tapes for Education program. The school and Harvest Foods enter for the fundraiser, where every dollar on a submitted receipt is transformed to a point that can be traded for school supplies. In the past, Venegas has been able to order jump ropes, glue, pencils, craft paper, paints, a sitting carpet, markers, baseballs, library books and more through the program.  

“It’s a lot of work on TJ and Toot’s behalf, though,” Venegas said. “Their accumulation of time as well as the effort to consolidate all of this and go through it with their eyes and organize it, it’s a lot of work on them, but they found it rewarding for their own benefit, so they really enjoy it. But for us, we love being able to supply the different needs, even if it’s desk supplies for kids... it’s a huge benefit.” 

Toot first heard of the fundraiser in her bible study group, which was collecting receipts during their meetings. Once when Toot was dropping off receipts at the school, she thought to ask who was keeping track of them all. The answer was anybody who had the time.  

“It just occurred to me that, well, I’ve got the time to do it and it would be a good exercise for TJ to help do that,” Toot said.  

TJ, Toot’s son, was born premature with a learning disability, including dyslexia.  

“I can see an improvement in him reading numbers, not getting them mixed up, from just giving me the total,” Toot said. TJ does the organizing and Toot does the accounting, working together to bind receipts into $1,000 rolls and sending them off for the school.  

The fundraiser used to be lucky to collect $100,000 in receipts. Toot and TJ’s first year, they counted almost $200,000 worth of receipts.  

“It’s kind of gotten to be a joke, because I’ve got friends that do Sudoku and it’s supposed to keep your mind alert and all kinds of stuff; I say let me tell you something, Harvest Foods receipts are my Sudoku,” Toot laughed.  

In years past, the campaign has collected almost $1 million in receipts. Venegas emphasized the importance of everyone participating.  

“Everybody’s help and involvement in it is what makes those point values go up and we can get more supplies for the kids,” Venegas said.  

Those wishing to participate can drop off Harvest Foods receipts dated on or after Sept. 1, 2024 at the Bigfork Elementary School office, the Bigfork Area Chamber of Commerce, the community board at Denny's Barbershop and the Liquor Barn.  Though alcohol, tobacco, lottery and gift card purchases do not count towards the fundraiser, Toot asks that they not be marked off of receipts so that tallying is easier.