Local coupon clippers aid American military, families
At the Center in the Woods on a Wednesday morning, attendants of adult day care sat together at a table diligently clipping coupons. They weren’t cutting them out to save money on groceries, but to help military families around the world. Mary Beth Barreca, activities coordinator at the adult day care center, explained that for two years, they have participated in a coupon-clipping program sponsored by www.siteforsavings.com that allows people to send their unwanted coupons to military servicemen and women and their families. The coupons help the military families, who are usually on a tight budget, to save money when they visit the commissary.
“I’m always looking for new programs for them,” said Barreca. “But I want the programs they participate in to have purpose and meaning, not just to keep them busy. I want them to feel fulfilled because they are doing something good.”
The participants made it obvious that they were happy to help as they talked excitedly among themselves while they worked.
Barecca said that while the group participates in coupon clipping once a week, some attendants, like Eugene Greco, are “diehards” who look forward to clipping coupons for military families every day.
“He clips them out every day he comes in,” said Barreca. “Some of them are that excited about it.”
Greco smiled at the thought of having his work publicized as he busily clipped coupons with his friends and threw away all their scraps.
Barreca said that even though the members of adult day care have certain ailments, such as arthritis, there is always a way for everyone to participate.
“If they have arthritis or they can’t see well enough to clip the coupons, they can sort them out,” said Barreca. “Every single person can contribute.”
Barreca noted that sorting the coupons into categories is important, especially because relief services for the military request coupons for staple foods, such as canned soups, vegetables and fruit that will encourage a healthy lifestyle for military families.
Barreca said the military families also appreciate getting coupons for baby items, baking goods and basic toiletries.
The efforts of the adult day care center have not gone unnoticed by the people at different military bases who receive the coupons. Renee Jaffer, relief services assistant at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society in Okinawa, Japan, sent Barreca a thank-you note, telling her how valuable the coupons are to the families who do not receive them in Sunday coupon inserts.
Jaffer said that the coupon program came to the Relief Society by way of the Marine Corps Community Services Personal Services Center, and the program has gotten a huge response from people like those at the adult day care center who want to help military families stretch their budgets.
“We are receiving thousands of coupons weekly, sometimes more than we can handle,” Jaffer’s letter said. “We are able to package and distribute coupons directly to our clients, and also share them with other agencies in close contact with families.”
Barreca said the adult day care always sends letters along with their coupon donations.
“We write letters telling them who we are and what we do, and explain that we want to show our support,” said Barreca. “This is just something we can do to help in a little way.”
Jaffer said in her letter that letters like the ones the adult day care sends are “quite a boost for the service member’s morale.
“So many contributors are sending heartfelt well wishes that we are posting in our offices,” said Jaffer, inviting anyone contributing coupons to send letters as well.
Barreca said that in addition to getting coupons from www.siteforsavings.com, workers and volunteers at the center bring unused coupons in from home that can also be sent in.
“A lot of people may not know about this program, and any family who wants to help out can send them in,” said Barreca.
Military commissaries will redeem the coupons up to six months after they have expired. Additional information is available on the Web site.