Coupons for Military Families

In this economic climate and working as an activities director in a non-profit retirement community, I have come to appreciate the value of using coupons. I personally started getting more serious about couponing and found the website, The Krazy Coupon Lady, to learn the basics that have saved me a lot of money. I found that it was important to get more coupons in order to succeed, and found that the recycle bins at work was a good source to find a few extra packets of coupons. (The recycle bins are inside the buildings and are for paper only, so it is not gross.)

As I've explored this new world of coupons, I've been thinking about two different things. The first is that I am sure that there are other staff members in the community that could use these coupons too. I wonder if they are taking a moment to search in the recycle bins like me or not. As the activities director, my job is to plan programs for the residents, but I am honestly thinking about coming up with a program that has the residents providing coupons for the staff. It is more of a logistics issue than anything else. Where would the coupons be housed and how would the staff take them without making a mess in a break room.

The other thought is that there are soooo many extra coupons going to waste in our community that all the staff people who would want coupons are not ever going to be able to use them all. The residents in retirement community are interested in volunteering and with that in mind, I thought about a way to tie the two together. In my search for places where coupons can be donated, I found a few websites. They are 

• Ocpnet
• Grocery Savings Tips
• Coupons to Troops.

I also found these articles about other retirement communities who are involved with sending coupons to the troops and participate to help our soldiers.  Here is a video that shows residents in action clipping coupons for troops. Check them out and see if you can envision your residents getting involved. 

Many churches are involved in sending coupons to our troops. I believe that the residents who live in our communities these days are willing and able to volunteer when they know are helping our troops families. Read over the sites mentioned above. They are very different. One sends the coupons to a base that you adopt, one is a clearing house for the coupons, and one sends them to a specific family. Understand what the requirements are for each of them. (There are others on the web too if you look.) Get your residents together and ask them which way they want to proceed. The more involved they are in the decision making process, the more they will be vested into the program. 

I think that you will agree with me when I say that this is a small way for the residents to help your staff and/or our active troop members, and yes, you will feel good for initiating it! Happy clipping.