VWS Grocery Card Program
Grocery Card ordering is available online. With online ordering and various payment options, supporting this fundraiser couldn’t be easier. And remember, whatever you pay for in cards, you will receive in purchases from the stores.
Grocery Card Order FormHow Does Grocery Card Ordering Work?
Grocery card orders can be submitted, changed and halted easily from any of your devices using our online order form. A paper form is also available from Grade School Reception. There is an option to place a recurring order or you can place individual orders as you wish.
At this time, payment options include direct debit or post-dated cheques provided at the time of ordering.
Payments are processed on the 1st and 15th of each month with grocery cards available for pick-up shortly after.
What Grocery Cards are Available Through the Program?
Donald’s Market 10%
Grocery cards can be used at all Donald’s Market locations. They have stores in Hastings-Sunrise, Commercial Drive, River Market New Westminster and Port Coquitlam.
Donald’s Market is an independent market offering quality products for an affordable price. It is packed with healthy varieties including an organic section and hard-to-find items requested by customers. They are offering the school an excellent return so this store is the best choice for those living in Donald’s neighbourhoods or for those transiting through the Hastings/Nanaimo area.
Save-On-Foods 2% – 6% (Depending on volume purchased)
Grocery cards can be used at Save-On-Foods, Overwaitea Foods, Cooper’s Foods, Pricesmart Foods. Grocery cards cannot be used for Save-On-Foods online delivery service at this time.
Save-On offers better discounts for the school than President’s Choice because they have lower minimum spends to get the higher percentage returns. They are a BC-based company with locations all across Western Canada including close to the school at Lynn Valley Village and also a larger store at Park & Tilford – across the road from the Return-It Depot to make even more money for our school’s initiatives!
Choices Markets 7%
Grocery cards can be used at all eleven Choices Markets locations. On the North Shore, they are located at Marine and Fell Aves.
Choices Markets is a local, BC owned and operated retailer of natural, organic and specialty foods. Originally opened in 1990, Choices is proud to be celebrating over 25 years as a local, grassroots grocer committed to their customers, communities and planet. With a 7% return for the school, Choices cards are a great option.
President’s Choice 2% – 5% (Depending on volume purchased)
Grocery cards can be used at any President’s Choice stores as well as at the gas bars. This includes but is not limited to: Real Canadian Superstore, City Market, Loblaws, Joe Fresh, No Frills, Super Valu and Independent. PC® grocery cards can be used for anything in-store except tobacco, liquor or items from in-store third-party businesses.
President’s Choice is a store brand owned by Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s largest food retailer. Their cards offer the greatest variety of store choices and product offerings, such as clothing and home-wares in addition to your groceries. Their minimum spends for each level of rebate are higher than other stores, with the 5% return not kicking in unless we spend $20,000 in the month. Having said that, based on your survey responses collected last October, we may be able to meet that level within our community if everyone gets involved.
T&T Supermarkets 2%
Grocery cards can be used at any T & T Supermarket and Osaka Supermarket. There are locations all across Greater Vancouver, including the Osaka Supermarket at the Park Royal Mall in West Vancouver.
T & T Supermarkets differ from other supermarkets by featuring many uniquely Asian food products not available in other retail outlets. Shopping at T & T is like taking a journey through parts of Asia where one finds fresh mangoes from the Philippines, crispy snacks from Japan, sauces from Hong Kong, noodles from Taiwan, spices from Thailand and a variety of flavours from China and other Asian countries. They also have fresh seafood, an in-house bakery, an Asian deli, a Sushi and a Chinese BBQ department. Established in 1993 by T & T Supermarket Inc., they continue to expand, merging with Loblaw Companies Limited in 2009.
Safeway, Thrifty’s & IGA 3%
Grocery Cards can be used in all Sobeys stores, including Safeway, Thrifty’s and IGA. (Grocery Cards cannot be used in liquor stores or Safeway U.S Grocery Stores.) Safeway Grocery Cards may only be used to purchase merchandise from their stores and are not valid towards the purchase of other company’s grocery cards, event tickets, Lottery, or Transit tickets and passes. Safeway Grocery Cards may not be exchanged for other Safeway Grocery Cards.
Safeway is a Canadian supermarket chain with stores all across Western Canada, including at Lynn Valley Village.
*Please note, Costco does not offer a bulk purchase grocery card program so it will not be possible to include them in our Program.
How Will the Money Raised be Used by VWS?
No independent school can charge the full cost of educating its students without pricing itself out of the market. Every independent school including the Vancouver Waldorf School relies on fundraising to sustain its programs. Fundraising enables the school to grow and expand, and allows us to continue to make Waldorf education available to children from diverse economic backgrounds. The Grocery Card Program is just one of the many ways the school raises funds. The proceeds from our grocery fundraising program are directed to the school’s Community Fund which is managed by the Development Office. The available funds are assigned based on the needs in a particular year and include support for High School, Grade School, Early Childhood and school-wide initiatives. Examples include funding for trips, supplies, playground/school equipment, events and more.
How Much Has Been Raised?
Since the program began in 2015-16, together we have raised close to $40,000. This money was raised with around 25% of our community of parents taking part. Beginning in September 2019, the Grocery Card Program will transition to a mandatory participation program for parents with children currently enrolled in the school. We are proud of our well-run grocery fundraising program and encourage the wider community to participate. The more people involved, the more funds we will have to put towards initiatives for our children. Please help us to spread the word about this easy school fundraiser!
FAQ
Will tax receipts be issued?
Tax receipts will not be issued for this program. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation please see www.vws.ca/giving/donate-online.
Do the grocery cards expire?
None of our grocery cards have expiration dates. Regulation of grocery cards is under provincial jurisdiction, and all Canadian provinces have specific laws prohibiting expiration dates on grocery cards.
Can the grocery cards be used online?
Each store is different. Please see the “What Grocery Cards are Available Through the Program?” section above to check the store in question.
Can I use a partial amount of the grocery card?
Yes.
What happens if I lose my grocery cards?
The grocery cards should be treated like cash. They cannot be replaced if lost.
What happens if my grocery card doesn't work?
Contact the store directly or contact vwsgiftcard @ vws.ca and we will do our best to assist you.
Will I receive my store reward points (E.g. Air Miles, More Rewards, etc.) if paying by grocery card?
Yes, store reward points are given when making your purchase with the grocery cards (not when the school buys the grocery cards).
Didn’t find the question you were looking for?
Submit a question here vwsgiftcard @ vws.ca
Contact Huy Pham, Finance Manager, and program manager, at vwsgiftcard@vws.ca or check the FAQ section of this page to learn more about the program.