We had such a wonderful turnout at our Operation: Send Some Cheer Event in the Phillipsburg Mall, we have made it a year round effort, extending it past it's intended holiday only season.
While there, we were able to ship out almost 900 care packages to deployed soldiers, almost doubling our original goal of 500! During our final few days, we had a very generous donation of gift cards from the Greenwich Shoprite, which we only spent part of immediately to complete the care packages that needed to be finished, leaving us with a balance. Then on the last day, after packing our things to move, a volunteer , Kelli D., showed up with an amazing donation -- boxes of toothpaste and toothbrushes she secured from a contact at Colgate-Palmolive.
How could we pack up and go home only to wait until next year? We still had some donations left, and gift cards for Shoprite, now toothpaste and toothbrushes!! Finding a new location to continue assembly became imperative. After calling numerous places, only to be rejected- one was finally interested in helping our cause.
RRP Cycle Stuff was our saving grace. They donated their front store for us to carry on creating and shipping care packages. Now that we've moved in and are pretty much settled, let the assembly begin- again! Super excited to jump right in, I had to pause, and think about some things. If I just went out and spent the balance of the gift card at Shoprite, and shipped the boxes flat rate, as I did in the mall, I'll only have the ability to ship out not so many boxes. I had to think....
Not having the constant traffic of mall patrons, generous to support this endeavor, or coverage from the press to keep the community involved, I had to think really hard of a way to make our resources go as far as possible. So I switched from flat rate shipping to priority weighed shipping, and that saved a few bucks -each box! Then I reflected upon what I learned from my copy of the Coupon Mom book and got started on one of the things I now know best how to do-COUPON!! I used to think I saved a good amount when I shopped, but my goodness, now I can say with a little more preparation and research, I now save a TON!!
I have turned the donated dollars into way more than their original amount. I thought- I want to send as many care packages as possible to support our troops- so I need to be vigilant about finding deals to get more for less. Every Sunday I make sure I get a newspaper, ask friends and family for their coupon inserts as well, check for online printables, and have even ordered really good coupons on ebay!
I'm starting this page to show just how savvy I have become with donated dollars-
so everyone can see how far their financial contribution really goes.
This is a picture of a recent shopping excursion to Shoprite
I was able to get all this for only $9.76 after tax by combining coupons with sale prices:
12 Campbell's Soup @ $.49 each
3 Honey Maid Grahams (that are "fresh pack" so each box has 6 packs) @ $1.99
1 Emerald Peanuts @ $1.74
2 Dole Fruit Bites (each pack has 6 bags) $1.99
16 Reach Toothbrushes $.99 (done in 2 checkouts since coupon limit is 4 per type)
For a Total of --$33.41 (not including tax)
Minus these coupons: 4 Campbell's @ $.40 on 3 doubled to $3.20
1 Nabisco @ $3 on 3 / 1 Emerald @ $1 on 1 / 2 Dole @ $1 on 1
8 Reach @ $2 on 2 (again I used 4 and then 4 on another transaction)
This was a trip to Target
I only paid $6.16 for all of this!
Regular Retail would have been $17.67
All of these (35)---FREE!!! (after coupons)
And these... FREE!!!
20 toothbrushes , 6 Eurcerin Lotion, 8 Reach Floss, 19 Aquafresh
We shopped at Target, Walmart, and Shoprite for all of these.
40 Nivea Chapsticks---FREE!!!
17 Stayfree and 30 Carefree--- Almost Free!
Some were bought at Shoprite and Some at Stop and Shop
Almost all were FREE, but some we paid $.49 for.
All these many Cup of Noodles came from each time I went to Shoprite. They've been on sale 3/$1 the last few weeks, and after a coupon- they were FREE!!
Stop in to check our coupon board. We post the most amazing coupon matchups in the area for you to go score free stuff!!
Regular Retail would have been $17.67
All of these (35)---FREE!!! (after coupons)
And these... FREE!!!
We shopped at Target, Walmart, and Shoprite for all of these.
40 Nivea Chapsticks---FREE!!!
17 Stayfree and 30 Carefree--- Almost Free!
Almost all were FREE, but some we paid $.49 for.
All these many Cup of Noodles came from each time I went to Shoprite. They've been on sale 3/$1 the last few weeks, and after a coupon- they were FREE!!
Stop in to check our coupon board. We post the most amazing coupon matchups in the area for you to go score free stuff!!
Excited to share all the information I have learned,
I put together a program at our new location.
It's called "Coupons and Coffee"!
Every Tuesday morning from 10:30 - 12:30, starting January 17th, you can come
swap coupons, learn new tricks, enjoy delicious coffee, and try for a chance to win the weekly "door prize"!! A printout will be provided highlighting coupons that will score free products and at which store!! You can partake in all the fun by making a monetary donation or bringing items to donate. I'm sharing my secrets in hopes that many will come and see how easy it really is to make a difference.
Our next goal is to raise funds to legally become a non profit!!
And of course help a ton of people along the way!
