My Call for You To Donate

[Barb]

I was watching the news last night and something like 6000 more families have applied for food stamps this last quarter than normal just in my little neck of the woods. The government cannot process them fast enough and families are not getting their cards loaded on time. Our food shelters are pretty bare which is shocking just after the holidays when they receive so many donations.

As couponers, we usually come across deals that our family won't use and so we don't bother. I am asking you to bother with these deals so that we can help families who need it. Your local shelter, food pantry, or perhaps the elderly couple down the street can really use our items. Especially on stuff like health and beauty that they cannot buy with food stamps. We get so much H&B stuff free here!

If you can't donate, invest your time into helping someone else learn to coupon. It is the best skill that everyone can learn.

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."
Chinese Proverb

[Barb]

One tiny thing that I do to help some people who I know won't take "charity" but need the items, if I see a free coupon deal like the Suave (http://thecouponcupboard.com/showthread.php?t=1754)today, I put their info in. They get the coupon, have no idea where it came from and it is a little way to brighten someones day!

[bargainbriana]

I did the same thing with the Suave Coupon!

How about starting a blog just for the purpose of having couponers send in their donation pictures???? Want to team up?

[shopaholic]

One tiny thing that I do to help some people who I know won't take "charity" but need the items, if I see a free coupon deal like the Suave (http://thecouponcupboard.com/showthread.php?t=1754)today, I put their info in. They get the coupon, have no idea where it came from and it is a little way to brighten someones day!

Smart ladies! I did this for all of my neighbors in the old neighborhood today. I think they'll be pleasantly surprised when it comes, but I'm sure they'll know where it came from. LOL!

[Barb]

I did the same thing with the Suave Coupon!

How about starting a blog just for the purpose of having couponers send in their donation pictures???? Want to team up?

We can accomplish that here just by doing a group album http://thecouponcupboard.com/album.php I am thinking about running a contest of sorts to encourage people to donate but not really sure how to work it. Ideas? I will gladly work with you on the project.

[GwynneL]

I found this site through Twitter, pointing to this particular post and had to jump in!

You are so very right about health and beauty items being very much needed by those on food stamps. It's something I've talked about on my blog, which is about my struggle to get out of poverty.

Food banks everywhere are running low. People are turning to state and federal assistance in record numbers.

But food isn't an issue for those on food stamps nearly as much as household and H&B items are. Tooth paste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, light bulbs, garbage bags, brooms, mops, cleaning supplies, all of these things often don't get bought because families have a hard time buying them when every penny goes towards rent and utilities! When you're house payment is late and your electric is about to get turned off in the middle of winter, buying a light bulb to replace the fifth one that just burned out gets pushed to the bottom of the list.

But also, consider finding a way to teach a couponing class to the poor moms in your community. Why? Coupons and food stamps are a GREAT combination.

My monthy food budget is $323 for my son and I. Before learning how to use coupons wisely, that would run out by mid-month. We had crappy food, and not enough of it.

After learning how to clip and use coupons, I often have EXTRA at the end of the month, and that balance always carries over to the next month.

I was lucky, my aunt has been couponing for years, and taught me how. She shares her sources with me.

But not everyone is lucky enough to have someone to help them learn couponing like I did.

Consider going to the local Department of Human Services (or whatever office handles food stamps) and propose a couponing class. Also, talk to the unemployment office, local food banks, churches that pass out food, etc. They know people that are on food stamps and good most definitely use the lessons on using coupons to stretch their food budgets to the max!

Gwynne

[Barb]

Great post Gwynne! I would have NEVER have thought of things like light bulbs. From working in a school for homeless children in my early 20's I knew that H&B was a big issue. Womens shelters would go nuts for all the free lipsticks and mascaras we accmulate. Imagine how hard it is to try to look for work and not feel confident about how you look.

I am very serious about wanting to a drive of some sort here.

I really need everyones idea's on how we can make that work.

[bargainbriana]

I can help promote but I'm not that creative on ideas! :)

[Barb]

Thanks Briana. I will be counting on your promotional skills then. Holly and I should have something posted in the next hour or two :)