Toni-Lynn
03-16-2009, 10:39 PM
http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vfd1.jpg
I am very behind in getting this posted! The Coupon Cupboards Virtual Food Drive (http://www.thecouponcupboard.com/showthread.php?p=5384) has come to an end! If you are not familiar with what we were doing, you can read more about it here (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/virtual-food-drive/the-coupon-cupboard-virtual-food-drive-and-mom-it-forward). My good friend Barb (http://twitter.com/chaotic_barb) gave me $100, that she won in a contest (http://elementaryspirits.com/2009/01/virtual-food-drive/), to buy as much food as I could. If you know how I shop then you know this wasn’t much of a challenge for me lol. I ended up spending $99.23 total. This includes my cost of coupons (which people forget to account for) and what I actually paid for the groceries with tax. I donated a total of $1284.89 worth of food to the UAW Local 12 Assistance Program. You can see just 2 of my trips here (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/virtual-food-drive/the-coupon-cupboard-virtual-food-drive-and-mom-it-forward) and here (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/charity/virtual-food-drive-day-2).
My husband was very successful in spreading the word to our local media. I was featured in a Parenting (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/media/i-made-the-news-coupons-rock)Magazine (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/media/i-made-the-news-coupons-rock)and the Union Journal. (article below) The whole experience was so much fun. My husband and I were thrilled to be able to help out 70 local families who are currently laid off just like my husband was for many months. My Jeep was so full that my poor son almost had no where to sit!
The article below is a little off on facts but you can get the main idea http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif I wish we could proof read this stuff before they publish it lol They kept asking me about how much I spent, how much I saved numerous times and still got it wrong because others who had no idea kept talking over me http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif Love the media!
http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vfd2.jpghttp://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vfd5.jpg (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/media/i-made-the-news-coupons-rock)
Toni-Lynn Barber uses coupons to help laid off workers
In this economy, stretching your income has become a necessity. Toni-Lynn Barber (daughter-in-law of Local 12 Dues Office Unit Chairperson xxxxxxx) has become an expert at it, using coupons to build big savings at the grocery store. Toni-Lynn has developed a series of website forums and blogs which concentrate on using coupons, emphasizing family fitness and making economic grocery choices.
Last week she used her expertise to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of groceries and other items at a fraction of their retail price and she donated the items purchased to the Local 12 Assistance Program for Laid-off Workers. The donation included cereal, soups, baking mixes and plenty of other items to help feed growing families.”It’s kind of astonishing to see how much you can purchase with a little money and coupons,” Assistance Committee member Diana Spalding said.
Noting the big savings possible with coupons and sales at local stores, Toni-Lynn commented, “It takes time and dedication but anyone can do it! It’s just a matter of matching good coupons with good sales and stocking up.”
Toni-Lynn’s websites and other sites she partners with include Grocery Price Books (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/) - This is a convenient price comparison site for stores like Kroger, Giant Eagle and Meijer. We Fit Families (http://www.wefitfamilies.com/) - This site is a discussion forum that provides ideas and tips on staying fit and being more healthy. The Coupon Cupboard (http://www.thecouponcupboard.com/) - This site is a discussion forum that provides info on how to coupon. Forum users share information on what stores are having sales and how coupons can make those savings even better.
The donation to the Assistance Program came about when members of The Coupon Cupboard decided to help make a difference in their communities bu donating some of their purchases to charitable causes and programs. “I was happy to be able to give all of these items to the program,” she said. The members are writing about their experiences as the donate to local pantries and shelters and posting those stories on The Coupon Cupboard where members can vote on their favorites. They have turned the effort into a contest and the winner will receive a Wii Fit or a gift certificate.
Toni-Lynn’s efforts are paying off for her family and for the community as well.
http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vfd4.jpg
(Sorry for the awful picture. No scanner at the hotel so did my best with my cell to get a picture of the paper)
Toni-Lynn has become something of an expert at using coupons to stretch dollars when buying food and other items. Above, she donates more than 2 tables (several boxes not pictured) full of items which she bought for about $20 and a lot of coupons to the Local 12 Assistance program. Pictured with her son Spencer (22 months), husband Royal, and Assistance Program members.
Just some of the things I donated were:
12 boxes of Hungry Jack Potatoes
12 pouches of Hungry Jack Pouched Potatoes
12 boxes of Spaghetti
10 boxes of Penne Pasta
16 cans of Chicken Noodle
16 cans of Tomato
16 cans of Cream of Chicken
16 cans of Cream of Mushroom
23 Bags of Halls
12 Bags of Betty Crocker Muffin Mixes
11 Pouches Startkist Tuna Creations
20 Pouches Starkist Tuna
19 McCormick Gravy Mix
20 Boxes of Jello Singles
12 Boxes of Hot Chocolate
16 Packages of Dixie Napkins
24 Bags of Quaker Tortillaz’ and Quakes (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/charity/virtual-food-drive-box-5)
Gerber Snacks and Juice and much more
I am very behind in getting this posted! The Coupon Cupboards Virtual Food Drive (http://www.thecouponcupboard.com/showthread.php?p=5384) has come to an end! If you are not familiar with what we were doing, you can read more about it here (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/virtual-food-drive/the-coupon-cupboard-virtual-food-drive-and-mom-it-forward). My good friend Barb (http://twitter.com/chaotic_barb) gave me $100, that she won in a contest (http://elementaryspirits.com/2009/01/virtual-food-drive/), to buy as much food as I could. If you know how I shop then you know this wasn’t much of a challenge for me lol. I ended up spending $99.23 total. This includes my cost of coupons (which people forget to account for) and what I actually paid for the groceries with tax. I donated a total of $1284.89 worth of food to the UAW Local 12 Assistance Program. You can see just 2 of my trips here (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/virtual-food-drive/the-coupon-cupboard-virtual-food-drive-and-mom-it-forward) and here (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/charity/virtual-food-drive-day-2).
My husband was very successful in spreading the word to our local media. I was featured in a Parenting (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/media/i-made-the-news-coupons-rock)Magazine (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/media/i-made-the-news-coupons-rock)and the Union Journal. (article below) The whole experience was so much fun. My husband and I were thrilled to be able to help out 70 local families who are currently laid off just like my husband was for many months. My Jeep was so full that my poor son almost had no where to sit!
The article below is a little off on facts but you can get the main idea http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif I wish we could proof read this stuff before they publish it lol They kept asking me about how much I spent, how much I saved numerous times and still got it wrong because others who had no idea kept talking over me http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif Love the media!
http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vfd2.jpghttp://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vfd5.jpg (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/media/i-made-the-news-coupons-rock)
Toni-Lynn Barber uses coupons to help laid off workers
In this economy, stretching your income has become a necessity. Toni-Lynn Barber (daughter-in-law of Local 12 Dues Office Unit Chairperson xxxxxxx) has become an expert at it, using coupons to build big savings at the grocery store. Toni-Lynn has developed a series of website forums and blogs which concentrate on using coupons, emphasizing family fitness and making economic grocery choices.
Last week she used her expertise to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of groceries and other items at a fraction of their retail price and she donated the items purchased to the Local 12 Assistance Program for Laid-off Workers. The donation included cereal, soups, baking mixes and plenty of other items to help feed growing families.”It’s kind of astonishing to see how much you can purchase with a little money and coupons,” Assistance Committee member Diana Spalding said.
Noting the big savings possible with coupons and sales at local stores, Toni-Lynn commented, “It takes time and dedication but anyone can do it! It’s just a matter of matching good coupons with good sales and stocking up.”
Toni-Lynn’s websites and other sites she partners with include Grocery Price Books (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/) - This is a convenient price comparison site for stores like Kroger, Giant Eagle and Meijer. We Fit Families (http://www.wefitfamilies.com/) - This site is a discussion forum that provides ideas and tips on staying fit and being more healthy. The Coupon Cupboard (http://www.thecouponcupboard.com/) - This site is a discussion forum that provides info on how to coupon. Forum users share information on what stores are having sales and how coupons can make those savings even better.
The donation to the Assistance Program came about when members of The Coupon Cupboard decided to help make a difference in their communities bu donating some of their purchases to charitable causes and programs. “I was happy to be able to give all of these items to the program,” she said. The members are writing about their experiences as the donate to local pantries and shelters and posting those stories on The Coupon Cupboard where members can vote on their favorites. They have turned the effort into a contest and the winner will receive a Wii Fit or a gift certificate.
Toni-Lynn’s efforts are paying off for her family and for the community as well.
http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/vfd4.jpg
(Sorry for the awful picture. No scanner at the hotel so did my best with my cell to get a picture of the paper)
Toni-Lynn has become something of an expert at using coupons to stretch dollars when buying food and other items. Above, she donates more than 2 tables (several boxes not pictured) full of items which she bought for about $20 and a lot of coupons to the Local 12 Assistance program. Pictured with her son Spencer (22 months), husband Royal, and Assistance Program members.
Just some of the things I donated were:
12 boxes of Hungry Jack Potatoes
12 pouches of Hungry Jack Pouched Potatoes
12 boxes of Spaghetti
10 boxes of Penne Pasta
16 cans of Chicken Noodle
16 cans of Tomato
16 cans of Cream of Chicken
16 cans of Cream of Mushroom
23 Bags of Halls
12 Bags of Betty Crocker Muffin Mixes
11 Pouches Startkist Tuna Creations
20 Pouches Starkist Tuna
19 McCormick Gravy Mix
20 Boxes of Jello Singles
12 Boxes of Hot Chocolate
16 Packages of Dixie Napkins
24 Bags of Quaker Tortillaz’ and Quakes (http://www.grocerypricebooks.com/grocerypriceblog/charity/virtual-food-drive-box-5)
Gerber Snacks and Juice and much more