This month I challenged myself (and you!) to try Couponing for Good with Champions for Kids… an easy SIMPLE Service Project that allows you to give back even when you can’t spend a lot of money.
Earlier this month, I told you about how I used coupons to purchase items to donate. My theme was “diaper bag” and I stuffed a bag full of diapering goodies for a new mom! And saved money with coupons I used from the All You Magazine I bought in the store.
Once I had my bag of goodies together, I talked up our food pantry visit with my two-year-old son. We talked all about how much he loved snacks and how other little babies liked snacks too! And wouldn’t it be fun to share our snacks with another baby? He started getting really excited about this idea! He really is such a loving, giving kid!
On a sunny afternoon, we headed down to one of the major food pantries in our area at the Manchester Area Conference of Churches Charities building. Our visit was a great experience for me – I’ve been involved in many food drives and other types of donations over the years, but I have not actually been to a food pantry! I got to meet the kind Mrs. Dale Doll who told me a little about the work at MACC’s food pantry.
I was shocked to learn many times they get food donations of VERY expired food items! And how when prices rise on certain staples, they have shortages. Or how often people donate half of a “pair” – lots of peanut butter but no jelly, lots of tuna fish but no mayonnaise – making it challenging to fulfill a family’s food needs. Sounds simple and obvious, but I never realized these are issues food pantries deal with – and it makes me reconsider the types of items I’ll bring to food drives (no, I never donate expired foods!).
My son and I left the diaper bag with Dale, and we pray it finds its way to the right mama at the right time to be a blessing to her and her family!
Couponing for Good, promoted by Champions for Kids has been a great project for me. I used to only clip coupons of items I knew my family would use that week/month. Now, I’m clipping a bunch extra just because I know they are high-demand food pantry items! I save them in hopes of matching up with a good sale so I can continue donating even on our one income. I hope my posts about Couponing for Good have challenged you to try this new way to give back – I know I have learned a lot, and I think so has my son, even at this young age!
Follow Champions for Kids on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about their monthly SIMPLE Service Projects and how you can get involved to help children in your community!
Did you try the Couponing for Good challenge this month? Or get involved in another volunteer opportunity? I’d love to hear about it!
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias #AllYouCFK~ All opinions are 100% my own.
I love that you took the time to learn from the pantry as well as make the donation!
I love that you took the time to learn from the pantry as well as make the donation!
I love your idea of creating a diaper bag for a mom in need! What a huge impact you will make for a new mom! And you little guy is adorable!
I love your idea of creating a diaper bag for a mom in need! What a huge impact you will make for a new mom! And you little guy is adorable!
Great post! I love participating in these projects and I love getting my kids involved. I love that they get to see what the hard work we do equates too. And we also had to drive to a not so nice part of town so they REALLY got a sense of how well we do have it and WHY you should help others that don’t have it as well as we do. Nice jon.
Great post! I love participating in these projects and I love getting my kids involved. I love that they get to see what the hard work we do equates too. And we also had to drive to a not so nice part of town so they REALLY got a sense of how well we do have it and WHY you should help others that don’t have it as well as we do. Nice jon.
I love that you sat down with the organizer of the food pantry to get more insight into their needs and challenges. It’s also so sweet how you are teaching your giving nature to your adorable little boy, too – that’s just as important as the donation itself in what it will mean for future generations. Way to go!!! 🙂
I love that you sat down with the organizer of the food pantry to get more insight into their needs and challenges. It’s also so sweet how you are teaching your giving nature to your adorable little boy, too – that’s just as important as the donation itself in what it will mean for future generations. Way to go!!! 🙂
I really need to do this. And your tips about pairing items is excellent. I will remember to do that. Alas, this month I’ve been immersed in clinical rotation time at the urgent care clinic. Long, long days for which I am not compensated except in experience so sort of giving free health care. That’s about all I can manage for the time being but I’ll be expanding my horizons soon. Time and season for things…
I really need to do this. And your tips about pairing items is excellent. I will remember to do that. Alas, this month I’ve been immersed in clinical rotation time at the urgent care clinic. Long, long days for which I am not compensated except in experience so sort of giving free health care. That’s about all I can manage for the time being but I’ll be expanding my horizons soon. Time and season for things…
We did the couponing for good campaign too – and gave food supplies to the local food pantry. The Champions For Kids Program is awesome!
We did the couponing for good campaign too – and gave food supplies to the local food pantry. The Champions For Kids Program is awesome!