Loot Store is a big hit at Lincoln

Lincoln Elementary has taken the gold-star concept to a higher level — greenbacks.

Kids are going above and beyond earning money through good behavior to cash in at their own mercantile, the Lincoln Loot Store. The money is fake, but the results are real and far-reaching.

The "loot" concept got off the ground when Diane Fullerton got wind of the program while shopping around for a service project for her church group. After looking into it more, she realized that the program was nowhere near its potential.

"(The store) had mostly castoffs and things that kids really wouldn't be interested in," said Fullerton.

So after getting the nod from Lincoln's principal, Fullerton rolled up her sleeves and turned the store, which is located in a small room in the school, into the biggest incentive program Lincoln has seen.

Students are rewarded on an individual basis for attendance, doing homework, reading, random acts of kindness and even helping the janitors.

Lincoln, located at 1090 Roberta St. in Salt Lake City, has an 86 percent poverty rate, which is one of the reasons Fullerton said the Loot Store is so successful. It now has new toys, games and books, but it also has food, socks, gloves, loofahs, soap, pillows, blankets and shampoo.

It's common to see a first-grader walk out of the store with a month's earnings spent on Top Ramen and a pair of socks — items students at other schools wouldn't look at twice.

"This wouldn't work for kids at school that don't have the need these children do," said Fullerton. "They can't even conceive not having the basic necessities."

But Fullerton said overwhelmingly kids buy for their families first. Then if they have money left, they buy for themselves.

It's not a handout — they earn it, said Fullerton. The students have a chance to come in once a month to spend their loot dollars. The store is open every Wednesday, and classes are coordinated to come in at certain times each month.

First-grade teacher Becky Page said it is a positive way to enforce good behavior.

"Instead of yelling, 'Sit down!' you start giving loot to the kids that are sitting and quiet, and then they all follow — you don't have to say anything."

Principal Shannon Andersen said the program provides a solid piece of motivation that works universally.

"It works so well we might as well be giving them real money," said Andersen. "It's so well-organized . . . the woman (Fullerton) could be a CEO."

She said Fullerton works tirelessly to organize donations, volunteers and the store itself to keep the students motivated. She saw a need and works every day to meet it.

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