Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Reminder: Time to Clean Out and Donate Coupons!


This is a post from back in March, but thought it was time to bring it back and remind everyone...donate those coupons!!!!

Every month, I sit down and clean my expired coupons out. I do this for a couple reasons!

First, it prevents me from accidentally pulling expired coupons out and using them. It also reduces the size of my coupon filer..whew...that is a challenge. And, finally, it allows me to set aside my expired coupons and donate them to overseas Miliary families that can use them. Yay!

Click here to read my original article on donating coupons.

In addition to this company, I met a wonderful blogger at the Blissdom '09 Conference I went to in Nashville last month and had the opportunity to hang out with her again at BlogHer '09 in Chicago! Toni writes at the Happy Housewife ( a great blog by the way ) and also coordinates a program to donate coupons to Military families herself. So, I asked her to tell us a bit about the program for us all ...and hopefully we can all take part and help others save money, too!

Coupons for Troops is a program I started in 2008. My goal is to provide expired and non-expired coupons to military families stationed overseas. The prices in overseas commissaries are significantly higher than those in the States and military families do not always have access to coupons in newspapers and inserts.

Military commissaries overseas accept coupons up to six months past the expiration date.Military Commissaries accept manufacturer coupons as well as internet printed coupons. The Commissary is a grocery store so only "grocery" coupons are needed. Families cannot use store specific coupons (ie Target, Walgreens, Kroger).

Those who participate in Coupons for Troops are assigned an overseas military family. Coupons, which do not need to be sorted, are then sent directly to the assigned family. All overseas military families have FPO or APO addresses so mailing coupons costs the same as if you were sending them stateside. You can send as many or as few coupons as you have available. Please only send coupons that have been expired 3 months of less in order to give the families time to sort and use the coupons.There are also opportunities to send non expired coupons to military families living overseas that do not have access to the commissary.

If you are a military family stationed overseas and would like to receive coupons we would love to add you to the mailing list.For questions, more information, or to be assigned an overseas family please send an email to thehappyhousewife@gmail.com. You must put " Coupons for Troops" in the subject line.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

"grocery" as in food related only??

Carrie @ Moneysavingmethods.com said...

Good question. Not sure...I'll leave Toni a message.

Anonymous said...

Overseas families can use coupons for grocery items as well as for personal items (deodorant, shampoo, soap), pet food, batteries, and cleaning supplies. Basically anything you would find in a grocery store they have in an overseas Commissary.
Toni

Anonymous said...

Last question: So do i need to contact Toni to get assigned to mail out coupons?

Carrie @ Moneysavingmethods.com said...

For questions, more information, or to be assigned an overseas family please send an email to coupons4troops@comcast.net.

Megan said...

Thanks for this post. I contacted Toni and received my family today. I am so excited!

Carrie @ Moneysavingmethods.com said...

Megan,

It is so fun, isn't it? It is nice to know the coupons we don't get used up will perhaps help another family save...that doesn't have the option otherwise!!

I am really excited about the program, too.

Unknown said...

I've tried to email her twice and keep getting a delivery status notification. Is there a way for her to contact me? seamstress8102 at hotmail dot com I would love to do this!

Carrie @ Moneysavingmethods.com said...

Jamie,

I just left her a message via Facebook and asked her to email you.

Let me know if you don't hear from her.

 
Photobucket