Students use newspapers the classroom receives, under a grant sponsored from the Volusia County Reading Council and The News-Journal's Newspaper in Education program, to compare prices on items and to find and clip coupons. Other errands students have performed include baking brownies, delivering newspapers to other classrooms and wrapping holiday gifts. In the spirit of an education and business partnership, area store managers enhance students' experiences. A nearby Winn-Dixie provides the classroom with shopping carts for student use. Other businesses have involved students in stuffing flyers and folding pizza cartons.
Stores compensate by providing students with free food, sodas, tickets or keepsakes.
Colorful store displays, people interaction and other experiences stimulate all the senses, and students respond enthusiastically to the shopping trips. As tasks such as paying a cashier and accepting change and receipt develop into routines, students become more independent. When skills are reinforced, students are equipped to someday lead more productive lives in the community. The shopping expeditions also educate the community about the students' capabilities. When individuals see how productive the students can be, and when students realize how they are contributing to society, benefits to the community are far-reaching.