- Bachelor at Large, Reese AFB 1964
I grew up in a household that believed in supporting our troops. My Dad served in the Air Force during the early years of the Vietnam War. His dad served in the Navy and his uncles served in the Army and Navy in WWII. Mom's dad wanted to serve, but wasn't allowed to. The family wouldn't let him since 4 of his younger brothers beat him to it and joined up before him - no Saving Private Smith for his family.
Parade Magazine had an interesting article this week about 11 Ways To Help Veterans on 11/11/11. Number seven jumped off the page at me - Cut Coupons.
Maybe I am the only one that never thought about this before, but I doubt it. Our military families overseas can use coupons at the commissaries up to 6 months after the expiration date, but they don't get coupons in the Sunday paper like we do. Enter Coups for Troops, who has organized a drive to send coupons to them. You can either send them to the organization for distribution or they will match you with a military family so you can send them directly.
Some of you may be extreme couponers that use every one and have stock piles of goods purchased with coupons when items are at their lowest. I use coupons, but only about 25% of the ones in the paper each week even make it to my coupon holder. And I always feel like I am "wasting" money when I don't use one and it is expired. I usually crumple them up with disgust and toss 'em in the recycle bin when I realize I didn't take advantage of the deal. And I can't help but feel creeped out when a strange lady wanders through my neighborhood digging through my trash barrel for coupons on Monday morning before Waste Management can get here to pick them up.
Now I have a solution! And with a 3 ½ year old that loves to use his purple "samety" scissors, I figure I can occupy him for at least 10 minutes cutting out the coupons so Daddy and I can watch a little football pre-game in peace.
Please forward the idea to others that might like to help. And if you, or anyone you know is stationed overseas and wants my coupons directly, just drop me a line at [email protected]. Also let me know if you have other charitable ways to donate coupons - the season for giving is upon us.
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
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