Dear Bethlehem Church and School Families:                                Print your SCRIP Order Form Here!

Bethlehem, like many area churches has established a SCRIP program.  Many of you may already know what SCRIP is. Some may only have a vague idea and some may not be familiar with SCRIP at all.  To end that, this information has been prepared to provide answers to questions about the SCRIP program and to explain specifically the program instituted here at Bethlehem..

Question:     What is SCRIP?

Answer:   SCRIP is a term that means, “substitute money.”  When congregation members and school families purchase SCRIP, they are purchasing negotiable gift certificates that are  used just like cash.  National and local retailers issue the SCRIP where many of you already shop.  You can use SCRIP to purchase everyday expenses like food, clothing, and other essentials and with every purchase, you earn revenue for Bethlehem.

Question:     How does SCRIP generate revenue for Bethlehem?

Answer:  There are national SCRIP centers that act on behalf of churches, schools and other non-profit organizations to purchase large amounts of SCRIP from grocery stores, department stores and other retailers.  Because the SCRIP is purchased with cash up front, the participating retailers offer a substantial discount.  Bethlehem buys the SCRIP from these national SCRIP centers and local retailers at a discount and re-sells the certificated to congregation members and school families for full face value.  Bethlehem retains the bulk of the discount – from two to fifteen percent of more – as revenue.

Question:     Why is SCRIP an effective fundraiser?

Answer:       The reason SCRIP is so successful is simple.  Families produce revenue by making purchases they would already make anyway.  Groceries, clothing, toys, gifts, even gasoline can be purchased with SCRIP.  As an example, an organization of 150 families easily spends between one and two million dollars per year on food, clothing and other essentials.  If these families use SCRIP for these purchases, they can raise as much as $40,000 to $80,000 per year for their organization – without spending an additional penny.

Question:     Why do the retailers like SCRIP too?

Answer:  Families who purchase SCRIP certificates/gift cards, actively support the retailers who participate in this program.  They know that buying from a participating SCRIP retailer provides a steady source of revenue for their church and school.

Question:     What will the revenue of SCRIP be used for?

Answer:  SCRIP revenue will be used for tuition assistance, non-budgeted school/church items, youth ministries (Lutheran Girl and Boy Pioneers, Vacation Bible School, Cradle Roll, etc.) and  the compassion fund.

THE ORDER AND SALES PROCESS:

• There will be a SCRIP box located in both Germantown and  Menomonee Falls.  These boxes are clearly marked and only to be used  for SCRIP orders.
• To place an order, fill out a SCRIP order form with your name, quantity and type of SCRIP you wish to purchase.  A SCRIP order form will be attached to the TUESDAY NEWS for the school families and additional order forms will be located next to the SCRIP boxes.  There will also be SCRIP order forms available on the Bethlehem website (www.bethlehem-wels.org) that you will be able to print out.  Check the box indicating the church location (MF or GT) that you would be picking up your order. NOTE:  Orders will only be available for pickup after church services.
• Place the order form and your check (PLEASE – NO CASH) in an envelope and deposit the envelope in one of the two SCRIP boxes. You may send your order form to school with your child to place in the box. 
• It is imperative that your order quantities and amounts equal your check amount.  If when processing your order we find a discrepancy or and error on the check, we will be unable to process your order.  We will then return your check and a copy of the original order form in an envelope and put in your church mailbox indicating why we were not able to process your order.
• THE CUTOFF FOR SCRIP ORDERS IS 12:00pm ON SUNDAYS  Any order received after 12:00pm on Sunday will be held and submitted with the next SCRIP order.  THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Initially, SCRIP orders will be placed two times per month.  Orders and payment will be collected on the second and last Sundays of each month by 12:00pm.  It will be offered on a weekly basis as volume increases to be determined by the SCRIP committee.  
• Orders will be available for pickup after all the church services.  Please note however; that when there is a week where there is a Monday holiday, there will be no distribution of SCRIP on Thursday.  There will be SCRIP volunteers available after each service.  In Menomonee Falls, the volunteers will be located in the hallway through the double gray doors.  In Germantown, the volunteers will be located in the LEFT side hallway (when you are facing the gym).

1.           Tell the SCRIP volunteer your name, and they will give you an envelope that contains your SCRIP certificates/gift cards along with a form that summarizes your order.

2.           Take out the Scrip certificates/gift cards and verify that your order is correct.

3.           After you have verified the order, sign the Order Packing Slip to indicate your receipt of the order.

4.           Return the envelope to the volunteer.  It is important that you initial and return the envelope to the volunteer.  We need your signature on file for receipt and we want to minimize the administrative cost of this program by re-using envelopes.

SUMMARY

Scrip is a win/win situation for all of those involved – church, school, the families who participate and retailers.  We encourage you to use this program.

Sincerely,

The Bethlehem Scrip Program Committee