Schools Counting On Shoppers To Help Pay For Sports Uniforms

Central Oahu schools are counting on community members to help raise badly needed money for their athletic programs.

Since 2001, the Shop and Score program has donated more than $1.25 million worth of uniforms and athletic equipment to Hawaii high schools. Shoppers at Times and Big Save stores can earn points for their chosen school by purchasing select products. The total points collected earn the schools a share of the $250,000 in Adidas Mi-team uniforms.

Football uniforms cost between $250 and $300 each, and though schools like Mililani High order new varsity uniforms every four years, and then passes them down to the JV team, any help with the growing costs is greatly appreciated.

“Before, when we didn’t have a Times in Mililani, we’d maybe get $2,000 at most. Now we have a one in Mililani, and that helps a lot,” said Trojan athletic director Glenn Nitta, whose school a year ago received about $10,000 in uniforms. “I feel sorry for the schools that don’t have a Times in their area. It’s a big help for us.”