Fundraising
Popcorn Sales
October is popcorn month. Selling popcorn can be a major fund raiser for a group. However, since it occurs so early in the scouting year, it is essential that you plan ahead. Information about the campaign is released in August, so get "popping" and sell that corn!.
Dates to Remember
- Popcorn Sales begin on October 1st or sooner and run until October 31.
- Orders must be placed with Trail's End (on their web site) by November 1, 2015. (This is the cut off date for your group's popcorn coordinator. Your sales cut off date will be earlier.)
- Pick-up date for popcorn is (tentatively) Friday, November 20, 2015 from 4 to 6 pm at Charlie Bee's. You will be able to deliver your popcorn.
- Popcorn payment is due when the order is placed (Otherwise your order will be delayed and will cost more money.)
- There are some great prizes to be won. You will be eligible with just one sale. Fill up your order sheet for a free T-shirt and to be eligible for even more prizes. See your section leader for full details. TIP: Fill up your order sheet faster by listing each product on its own line. i.e. if Neighbor Jack orders some popping corn and trail mix, don;t enter them both on one line, use two.
Some Popcorn Triva
Some of these trivia "facts" are a little out of date.
- Weaver Popcorn (makers of Trail's End) produces 30% of the world's popcorn.
- The Weaver Popcorn plant is located in Van Buren, Indiana
- Weaver uses high speed optical scanners to photograph over 750 billion kernels each year, for quality purposes.
- Weaver popcorn is distributed to over 90 countries.
- Weaver popcorn is produced in sizes that range from microwave bags to 50 lb. Bags used for concession stands and movie theatres.
- Weaver popcorn comes from hybrid seeds that are planted and grown by contract farmers with strict standards.
- The retail price of a 3 way tin is $45.
- All of the Trail's End products are trans fat free.
- Weaver popcorn is the largest popcorn manufacturer in the world
- Trail Mix is the new products for 2008.
- Everything except the trail mix is Kosher and Halal.
- The base level for qualifying for the scholarship program is $2500 in sales. (You only need to qualify once – all sales after that go to the scholarship.)
- A great way to increase sales is to add one more item.
- The retail cost of a 15 pack of Kettle corn is $20.
- Popcorn is harvested once the moisture content reached 16-20%.
- Ever wonder how a microwave bag of popcorn pops? The "this side down" side has a heat plate encased in the packaging that heats up and as the unpopped kernels come in contact with it, they too POP!
- Trail's End makes up 25% of Weaver Popcorn's business.
- The temperature of a popped bag of microwave popcorn can reach 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit!
- Not only is popcorn whole grain, it is also high in fiber, it is sugar free, and cholesterol free. Nature's perfect food!
- Weaver popcorn was started 80 years ago by Reverend Ira Weaver and is still a family run business to this day. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren run the business.
- The retail cost of a tin of popping corn is $10.
- Your orders for this year's campaign must be process by Halloween, October 31
- A great way to increase sales is to add one more seller
- Another great way to increase sales is to set target sales goals, like each seller reaches a $150 or $200. goal.
- Trail's End was the first popcorn company to remove diacetyl flavouring from its product.
- The level of sales required for the top sellers prize is $1500.
- The three flavours of microwave popcorn available are Kettle, Unbelievable butter, and Butter light!
- It is a tiny droplet of water creating steam that causes popcorn to explode or "pop”.
Adapted from material provided by Linda Way.
Apple Day
Apple Day is the traditional fundraising event that started right here in Canada! Section members will be selling apples again this year. Although individual groups may decide whether to participate or not and/or may alter the dates, the usual dates for apple day are October 17 and 18, 2008.
Money raised from apple sales (as with our other fundraisers) go to improving the Scouting programme through registration fee subsidies, outings, camping equipment, training and many other endeavours.
Donations, Gifts and Bequests
The annual registration fee does not cover all the expenses associated with putting on the Scouting program. If you (or someone you know) would like to help us out financially, it would be greatly appreciated.
We are happy to receive one-time donations, on-going gifts, or bequests from estates. To ensure that your donation is used to further Scouting within Fruitbelt Area, please write "For the benefit of Scouting in Fruitbelt Area" on your cheque or covering letter.
Some of the uses to which your gift will be applied include partial coverage of registration fees for families who cannot afford the whole cost, various activities held for the youth of Fruitbelt throughout the year, provision of a central meeting room and storage of supplies for the Area, and partial payment of registration fees for the Service Team and other Area-wide volunteers.
For more information or to make a donation, please contact the Area Commissioner, Caron Edwards, Ralph Van Dorsten or Fred Oldfield (Contact information can be found on the "Service Team" page).