Price Chopper has kicked off its “Tools for Schools” campaign in all five stores in St. Lawrence County, in Massena, Ogdensburg, Gouverneur, Canton and Potsdam.

From now through next March 28, shoppers are encouraged to support their local schools by using their AdvantEdge Card and enrolling in the program. Points earned will enable local schools to fund new equipment and materials such as school supplies, musical instruments, microscopes, computer software, furniture, and playground equipment.

Shoppers can also participate in the Tool for Schools supply drive from Aug. 3 through Sept. 13. For the sixth year, Price Chopper has partnered with the Salvation Army to help collect and distribute school supplies to students in need. Shoppers can purchase items from the Price Chopper Back to School Display and place them in a designated bin at the front of the store. The items will be distributed to teachers and students at the beginning of the school year.

New this year, from Sept. 2 to Oct. 3, the supermarket chain is sponsoring a Million Point Challenge: Family Meal Recipe Contest, an opportunity for schools to submit a favorite family recipe to represent their school. The top five recipes will be voted on by the public for the title of Fan Favorite and will earn 250,000 bonus points. The chefs from Price Chopper Market Bistro staff will select the grand prize winning recipe. The winning school will be awarded 1,000,000 bonus points toward educational equipment.

“This program presents an opportunity for entire communities to come together to earn points for valuable educational, technological and extracurricular equipment that may otherwise not be affordable,” said Mona Golub, Price Chopper’s vice president of public relations and consumer services. “The addition of the Million Point Challenge encourages people to think about how the health of our communities can be improved with a delicious meal and conversation around the dinner table.”

Schools will also have a chance to win prizes based on greatest volume earned and the greatest value-to-student ratio. Bonus points in addition to other incentives will help schools add to their overall total. As a special incentive to this year’s program, the top 50 schools will each receive a Price Chopper gift card worth $250.

In its 17th year, the Tools for Schools campaign has raised more than $11 million dollars for schools in Price Chopper’s six-state footprint. This year, more than $500,000 in needed equipment and materials are in play.

To find the participating schools in St. Lawrence County, and to earn points for a designated school, shoppers can visit http://www.pricechopper.com/savings/tools-for-schools. One point will be awarded for each purchased item. Purchase of select Price Chopper and Central Market Classics brand items will award double points.