You can trade in your Mardi Gras beads for doughnuts next week and help Augusta Evans School in the process.

As part of Krispy Kreme’s “Beads for Doughnuts” program, customers who bring in 12 pounds of beads or more to its Mobile location at 741 Hillcrest Road on March 5 or 6 will receive one dozen free glazed doughnuts or a coupon for a free dozen that can be redeemed at a later date.

Krispy Kreme will then donate the collected beads to Augusta Evans, which serves students with special needs. Students in the school’s work-education program will sort, tag and re-bundle the donated beads and sell them to Mobile-area mystic societies for use in next year’s Mardi Gras parades.

Last year, $109,000 was raised through the program, Augusta Evans Principal Asha Kidd said. The money is used for technology and curriculum upgrades and to fund the school’s token economy system, which rewards students for meeting goals.

(Photo courtesy of AL.com)