Too Slick for Their Own—or the Schools’—Good

August 20, 2019

For years, my family and I have been clipping Box Tops for Education like fiends. It was a great way to help schools without a lot of cash outlay or elbow grease.

But the Box Tops for Education program is changing. Now, instead of clipping and sending in those cardboard rectangles, you are supposed to simply scan your receipt and the app will scan it for eligible products and add the total to your school’s fund. It’s easier, says General Mills.

Nice try.

It may be easy, but do I really want General Mills having access to my private life, via my grocery receipt?

I don’t think so.

Would they use the information they gleaned to market other products to me?

I suspect so.

Regretfully, I’m putting schools on notice that, once the cardboard rectangles are all gone, so is my participation. I’m sad for the schools, but there’s only so far I’m willing to go.