CouponsToTroops.com - check it out!!

[sbp]

The newest Coupons Girls project has gone live!!!

Coupons To Troops (http://www.couponstotroops.com/)


The idea for CouponsToTroops came about because we wanted to have a place where people could learn the how's and why's about supporting our military families with something as easy as sending coupons!!

One of the best features of the site is not quite ready yet, but will be soon and that's to have an add feature for the directory of organizations around the country who are running coupon projects.

I am the coordinator for project in our community and have spoken to a lot of people at our drop-off nights. I've been asked repeatedly if I know of any similar projects in other areas of the country and I know they exist, but I don't usually have any other information at my fingertips to give out. With the directory on the website, hopefully someone in another part of the country will be able to look and see that yes, in their neighborhood there is a project that they can help support. Or if there's no project listed, hopefully we'll be providing them with the information necessary to start a project in their area.

Julie, Heidi and I are all for supporting our military families and this allows one one more way for us to do so!!

I hope you will check it out!!!

[floridaangel]

Thanks :) I was trying to find where to send my expired ones too as I have a ton of them!

Can you give me any advice on starting a local club here in my area? How do you advertise that you are collecting expired coupons for the military. This would be an awesome service project for my girl scout troop.

[sbp]

I can definitely give you advice!!! As we mention on the website, you basically need 3 things to have a coupon project: Coupons, an address to send them to, and the postage money.

So I'll break it down for you:

Coupons:
I would suggest starting out with the girls in your troop and their families. Make up a flyer for all the girls to hand out to their family members, friends, relatives and neighbors letting them know what you'll be doing and why. Chances are you won't get alot at first, but starting off slow will help you to get a routine going before you start getting slammed with coupon donations.

You'll get coupons that are already cut, but probably a good percent of the coupons will still be in full inserts, but you have can use the girls for their cutting skills and maybe even their sorting skills, depending on their age. Coupons should be sorted into a few categories (Food, Health/Beauty, Non-Food, Baby and Pets)

Our organization counts the face values, just so we have an impressive dollar amount to keep the momentum going for our contributors, but it's not necessary.


An Address:
As a hcw member and a couponer, you already have one advantage on finding a person who will be willing to receive coupons from your group. Follow the link in my signature and make contact with one of the HCW members listed. Or you can do as the website suggests, and inquire within your local community and find out if there's anyone with ties to your town/city that is stationed overseas. If there is, then contact that person and tell them about the project to see if they would be willing to be your contact person.

and finally postage money.

Depending on how big of a response you get will determine how big of a envelope/box you'll need to mail them. There's several flat-rate mailers and boxes available at the post office, but you can also just use regular envelopes or manilla envelopes if you don't have enough coupons to fill the others. Remember it's the same prices as you would pay to mail the package to someone here in the U.S..

Raising the money to be used for the donations is probably going to be your biggest concern, but it can definitely be done. Maybe do a bottle drive and earmark the money for your postage fund or put together a raffle or ask outright for donations, really anything that will bring in some money. You might even want to check with any mililtary organization in the area (American Legion, VFW, Marine Corps League, etc) or a service organization (Lions Club, Kiwanis, Rotary, etc) to see if they would help co-sponsor you and have them cover the postage for your project. Offer to do all the work in exchange for them paying all the postage. Really the means are endless, you just have to go after it.

That's it in a nutshell.

Once you have your routine going, then you can expand to see about getting more coupons brought in by dropping off information at businesses (they might want to put a collection box in their employee lounge) or see if the library would put out a collection box, churches, senior centers, etc. Your local radio station or newspaper might work with you by running a PSA to help promote the project.
And once you're up, please add your group to the directory at www.couponstotroops.com (http://www.couponstotroops.com/)



Hopefully that will give enough information to get you started, but please feel free to pm me anytime if you need any help getting going.

[hotcouponmama]

This is a great little information site, and Lesley did a wonderful job gathering content to make it happen! If it helps out even a handful of military families, then it's totally worth it!

[Gracenote76]

thanks!

[skimo]

Bump....Let's keep this thread visible...

[fastcat]

Thank You from a military spouse! I would love to help.

I have lots of coupons. Do the coupons have to be expired?

I just need an address to send it to. If you can give me an address I will get started.

Thank's again. Nicky

[sbp]

The coupons do not need to be expired.. Sending current ones just allows them that much more time to use the coupons.

Here at HCW, we have a thread in the Expireds forum of a dozen or so HCW members that are currently stationed overseas. The link is in my siggy - and all you have to do is pick a name on the list and send them a pm, requesting their address.

:biggrin:

[Ggbwg]

Awesome you guys!! I will try to do this at the end of every month.

[sbp]

Bumping up and I also wanted to let you all know that the project directory feature is now live.

IF anyone is part of a coupon project and wishes to be listed, please click on the Add Resource and submit your information, or if you know of anyone or group that might want be included, please forward the website to them.

Thank you!!

[gettinrevvin2007]

Very kewl! :BigHand:

[nsbkim]

Here one of the American Legion posts collects them. I usually take them about 4-5 gallon ziplock bags full that I have collected to send. They in turn sort them and mail them off. I do make sure that they have all been clipped.
I did it all myself for quite a while and it is a BIG job getting them all ready to mail.
I do know however that just the same as us, there is a need for our service men and women to be able to stretch their money and coupons is a wonderful way to do that. I have always thought it was such a waste to have to throw coupons away because they have expired. Now we don't have to!
I think it is amazing that the Manufacturers will allow military overseas to use expireds for so long after their date.

[Nutts4Coops]

Remember it's the same prices as you would pay to mail the package to someone here in the U.S.

If it's just a small envelope, can you put a regular US postage stamp on it and drop it in a mailbox, or does it have to be taken to the Post Office for special postage?

[Lucky1307]

The site looks great and of course it is a wonderful cause! I know my DS's scout troop is always looking for new "community" activities and I will be sure to mention this when meetings start again in the fall.

[sbp]

If it's just a small envelope, can you put a regular US postage stamp on it and drop it in a mailbox, or does it have to be taken to the Post Office for special postage?


As long as it doesn't weigh more than an ounce then you can put a regular $.44 stamp on it.

[jenayn]

This is awesome, and from another military spouse, thank you for finding such a great way help support them. I am going to find someone as I was fixin to throw out some great expireds. :)

Jen

[CouponFairy]

Excellent idea. I don't have a contact over there. My two cousins were over there, but they are home now. Wonder who I could send them to. I got them all separated and ready to go. I just hare that I threw away the yogurt and diaper coupons that expired last month. :(

[sbp]

Excellent idea. I don't have a contact over there. My two cousins were over there, but they are home now. Wonder who I could send them to. I got them all separated and ready to go. I just hare that I threw away the yogurt and diaper coupons that expired last month. :(

I can help you find a contact to mail to. :wink7:

Follow the link in my siggy over to our thread in the expireds forum. There's about a dozen hcw members who are stationed overseas. Just pick a name, send them a pm to request their address and you're all set!!

[CouponFairy]

I can help you find a contact to mail to. :wink7:

Follow the link in my siggy over to our thread in the expireds forum. There's about a dozen hcw members who are stationed overseas. Just pick a name, send them a pm to request their address and you're all set!!

Okay, I feel like a goober, but I don't know what a siggy is. Can you give me the link?

[sbp]

oops sorry!! Siggy = signature

Here's the link here (http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/trades-expired-coupons/6474-overseas-military-looking-expireds.html) for HCW members stationed on overseas military bases who can use coupons up to 6 months expired

[Torismommy]

My girl scout troop has been collecting and I'm trying to add my info to the resource section of the website, but there is no submit button! Is there someone who can help me? Maybe pm me and I can send you my information to be added?

Thanks!

[sbp]

Torismommy, you've got a pm!

[sbp]

bumping up!!

:biggrin:

[LoveMySgt]

I just went through my coupon book and have a whole stack. Just checking here for a place to send them to. Thanks!

[sbl56]

i was wondering if there is any contact in williamstown nj

thanks

[ineedcoupons2]

Are there any organizations/groups in metro atlanta where I can drop off?

[sbp]

I just went through my coupon book and have a whole stack. Just checking here for a place to send them to. Thanks!

LoveMySgt - we have quite a few members here at HCW that are stationed overseas. You can find the list here: http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/trades-expired-coupons/6474-overseas-military-looking-expireds.html and all you need to do is pick a name, send that member a pm requesting their mailing information.

:smile:

[sbp]

i was wondering if there is any contact in williamstown nj

thanks

There is a Girl Scout troop listed in the directory in Clementon. I'm not sure how close or how far away that is from you.

Are there any organizations/groups in metro atlanta where I can drop off?

The project directory on CouponsToTroops is still in the beginning stages, so we don't have a lot of groups listed as of yet, but we are trying to get the word out to different groups to ask them to submit their information.

The website does have the following suggestion to find a group in your local area:

If there's nothing listed in your local community, please inquire within your community to see if any organization (such as Marine Corps League, American Legion, VFW, DAR, Kiwanis, Rotary Club, Lions Club, a Senior Center, Church group, MOMS group, etc) has such a project. (If you are involved in a group and would like to be added to our directory, please fill out your information here.

You can also try a google search though there are no guarantees that you will find anything, even if there is a group in your area. Some key words that I enter when I'm looking are '*your city* overseas coupons' or '*your city* expired coupons'.

:smile:

[fdexmel]

I think this would be a good thread to be sticky!!!

[mxmom99]

I have just added my Girl Scout Troop in NC. PM me if you would like to send Q's to us!

[Qponlov3r]

Sending the person in nc a letter! ;)

[Torismommy]

We just received 2 packages of coupons thanks to this new site, however, there were no contacts listed. If you sent the Girl Scout Troop in NJ coupons, thank you! Please let me know who you are so I can thank you properly!

P.S. For the lady in Williamstown, my GS Troop can take your coupons to mail to the troops if you need...I am in Clementon and my troop is in West Berlin. Feel free to contact me!

[LoveMySgt]

LoveMySgt - we have quite a few members here at HCW that are stationed overseas. You can find the list here: http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/trades-expired-coupons/6474-overseas-military-looking-expireds.html and all you need to do is pick a name, send that member a pm requesting their mailing information.

:smile:

Thanks. I was just stopping in to say I was looking, kind of a bump of sorts :giggle2:

[MaMaHaHa]

RE: postage and mailing

I ship Soldier Boxes and books regaularly to Iraq and Afghanistan...the absolute cheapest way to mail the coupons will be Media Mail...it takes a little bit extra time, but it is way cheaper than the flat rate box cost. I checked with my Post Office and he said they could mail them media mail if only the coupons or inserts were enclosed.

I will get mine together...bummmer have a few too many 09-30-09 ones, but maybe someone else will find a good deal.

[mxmom99]

^^thanks for posting that. i will have to check into that, ive been using the $4.95 envies...that rate might be better!!

[Mom2Natalya]

My post office said it has to be bound books to qualify for media mail.

[sheila]

I have been sending coupons overseas for about two years on my own. I think what you all have gotten started is wonderfull!

[SGamecockCrew]

Hello! I am looking to adopt a family overseas that could use expired coupons. I would rather send them to individuals than to a base. I would like to send them the coupons and they can choose what they can use and pass the other coupons on to other families they might know. Does anyone know of any families that can use the coupons?

[sbp]

Hello! I am looking to adopt a family overseas that could use expired coupons. I would rather send them to individuals than to a base. I would like to send them the coupons and they can choose what they can use and pass the other coupons on to other families they might know. Does anyone know of any families that can use the coupons?


If you follow the bottom link in my siggy, you'll get to our thread where you can contact a HCW member that's stationed overseas. Just pick a name on that list and pm them, asking for their address and you'll be all set!!

:smile:

[SavinWithCoupons]

I apologize if I missed this but how far expired can they be?

[sbp]

They can use them for up to 6 months past their expiration, but you have to keep the shipping time in mind. And also if you're sending in huge batches, remember that it will take them time to get them sorted out too.

My group sends 15lb boxes which is ALOT of coupons, and I try not to include anything that's more than 3 months expired. I just finished filling a box last night and with the exception of baby coupons, there's nothing earlier than July in there. Baby coupons are pretty high in demand and also the smallest category, so I send them up to 4 months past.

HTH

[SGamecockCrew]

I have Pm'd a few but only heard back from 1. Are the names kept up to date or are there some that dont come on this site anymore. I dont want to obligate myself to too many at a time ya know?:wavehi:

[SavinWithCoupons]

Ok how about anyone who has not been contacted PM me rather than me PMing the same ones who keep getting contacted so someone who isn't getting any so far can get ours.

[unhinged]

This is a great idea, thanks!

[mwhjep]

Most of my coupons I print here at home, can they use those too?

[mxmom99]

yes they can use IP's.

and great idea!! anyone who needs expired's please PM me! i have tons!! thanks!

[sbp]

Ok how about anyone who has not been contacted PM me rather than me PMing the same ones who keep getting contacted so someone who isn't getting any so far can get ours.


I've added a few new names to the list this week (when I add a name, I also post a reply at the end of the thread to show who the new addition is!)