So many of us have been blessed in so many ways, with loving families, parents,
children and partners. We eagerly look forward to Valentine’s Day as an
opportunity to celebrate those blessings. But what about those who aren’t as
fortunate? Every year too many local women spend Valentine’s Day alone; not
because of choice but out of necessity.

Victims of domestic violence & sexual assault face loneliness, hardship and
heart break everyday, doing the best they can to stay strong. But on a day used to
celebrate love it can be hard to keep their survivor smiles shining as brightly.

Help The Fairy Godmother Association  give them a small token to remind them that
they are beautiful and strong women who are thought of and loved.

The FGMA will be delivering roses on Valentine’s Day to local women’s
shelters, including: Hope’s Door, Valley Crisis Center, City Light Home for
Women & Children,& Nampa Family Shelter.

You can gift one rose for only $3.00, this is a very small price for the
smile it could bring. Donations can be made via Paypal through this link
www.thefgma.com

Join with us today to become someone’s Fairy Godmother!

Our goal is to create moments of happiness where they are most needed.
We focus on local area shelters, foster care, and other area programs
whose goals are helping women and children.
Often times just a small reminder that they are thought of and are wished
happiness can help the women and children keep going in very hard
times.

Related posts:

1. Free photo with the tooth fairy
2. My coupon fairy at Albertsons
3. Free printable pool party invite template- Look what I made

Megan a local disables  12 year old in Boise  is holding a pet food drive.

This is the daughter of a dear friend of mine and she has done this drive now for about five years and is such a totally unselfish and sweet girl.
It’s hard to get a lot of donations for petfood and I was thinking with all the great couponers that read this blog maybe some might be willing to use some pet food coupons to find great deals on animal food and then donate to this food drive? It is done every year in the month of February and this year we would sure like to beat the donations that we got last year.

It would be wonderful if any of your great readers could be of help.

Related posts:

1. City Smart:$5 For $10 Worth Of Food From Zip’s Drive-In
2. fill a box of food for the kids
3. Local food drive, the brown bus company

Sweet little  Kyle needs a bone marrow transplant. His match will most likely be found in someone who is half-Asian, half-Caucasian. They are currently unable to find a match for him out of the 9 million registered bone marrow donors. That’s why your help is needed – to spread the word that people can easily be testedwith a simple swab of the cheek (you can request a test kit by mail). Giving the gift of life is the most precious gift of all – so please help find Kyle’s bone marrow match.

Related posts:

1. Save Lives Save Money- save the date 6/17
2. Save Money Save Lives- we are looking for 55 volunteers to donate blood on 6/17
3. Free Sobe Life Water at Target

For every can you purchase of Lindsay olives and enter the UPC code on this site.

Lindsay Olives has promised to donate to a local food bank – up to 25,000 cans.

I, Ingard entered the 8 cans that I recently purchased.

Albertson’s

Lindsay Reclosable Olives $2.79

• use $1/1 Lindsay Reclosable Olives in Albertsons Coupon Booklet
• and a twice the value coupon
• Final Price $.79

Related posts:

1. Need some olives?
2. Feel blessed? Donate to Food banks (Middleton Ridley’s has a unique way).
3. West Texas and New Mexico Albertsons matchups thru 8/24

I saw this on pinterest today and thought it would a GREAT idea for all us couponers who get 100′s of travel size items, especially this time of year!!
These are called “Blessing Bags” they are a ziplock filled with items like: chap stick, tissues, toothbrush/paste, comb, soap, trail mix, granola bars, crackers, pack of gum, band aids, mouthwash, a dollar or two (maybe use coins, for phone calls) socks, gloves and maybe a $5 gift card to mcdonalds. maybe throw in a note of encouragement. This time of year there are people asking for help almost at every shopping corner, I never know who to believe or not, so these are GREAT because if someone truely is in need, they will be ever so grateful for these items!!! You could make 2 or 3 of these and just leave them in your car! 

Related posts:

1. Click to Give …. simple way to give back
2. FREE onions in Caldwell….. a chance to give back!
3. Give back event (local)

Right now when you buy any of these SPECIALLY MARKED red scarfed products:

• International Delight
• Horizon
• Silk
• Land O’ Lakes products.

When you go to the Share your Delight website you can click on each brand and see which products qualify (little icons at bottom of page). For each qualifying product you enter you can help get $.50 donated to either Toys for Tots or Coats for Kids.

How to do it!

• Use coupon listed below for any product you buy to bring your out of pocket down
• Click HERE and hit the “enter your UPC” button, limit, once per day
• enter your UPC! Pick your Charity
• You will have just donated $.50 to Toys for Tots or Coats for Kids AND you are getting a $.55 off coupon for your next Purchase!

Here are a few coupons that help you help the cause.

International Delight:

Horizon EggNog:

Land O Lakes Half & Half:

Related posts:

1. $1 off International Delight
2. FREE International Delight
3. 1 dollar off Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta coupon

Here is another opportunity in Middleton, Idaho.
The local Middleton, Idaho Ridley’s (GO HERE for the match up) has a table of  pre-filled grocery bags filled with $5 – $5.50 worth of grocery items for you to ‘buy’ for $5 and leave there to donate to local food banks in Middleton. One is a church food bank and the other is a couple who run a food panty.

With our busy lives what a convenient way to give back and let others eat.

They will be running this through at least Thanksgiving and might be through Christmas.

Meridian Food bank stands in need of Turkey’s (read that here)

Related posts:

1. Meridian Food Bank needs Thanksgiving turkeys
2. Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive May 14 – giving back with coupons
3. Free Coupon Class 6/17- plus we still need 30 volunteers to donate blood

With out these men who served we would not have the luxury we do today. If you think we have the internet because we are smart – that may be the case but with out the freedom and protection that these men and women provided we would not of been able to focus on other things out side of War. And remember that many things were created through science of protecting our troops during war.

Read a story about Sarah and the Camouflage bags we saw HERE.

Sites to remember those who have fallen:

A teen with his own money set up PreserveandHonor.com to protect those buried at the Arlington National Cemetery. After it became known that the cemetery had mixed up and lost many records with miss management and ignorance and two leading officers lost jobs there due to this terrible issue. So Richard P. Gilleland, III started his website that has categorized many of the graves and is searchable. This not only is great to remember those who have fallen but also helps with genealogy which is another way to remember those who have past on.

freedomremembered.com/

Related posts:

1. Who are you remembering today?
2. Thanks –
3. Veterans day postings

Sarah donating to the Idaho Food bank

Dakan Funeral brought their new Hearse - and who else inside?

Ken Corder (left) and Tyler Grigsby (right) with the "Best Trunk Award"

Sarah, Ken Corder, Jeff White

Didn't know the entire Smurf family was coming

It has Begun! Let the kids raid the candy

Maveric is not impressed having to sit in the stroller

A Thrifty Mom "Trunk" I think every kid touched the heart (some called it brains) on the right side of the table

Pirate stroller boat, with baby pirate on board

And the line keeps coming! Wow over 4000 people! We were expecting 200-300 in the beginning!

And here is what it was all about - over 16 barrels of food for the Idaho Food Bank

We are so glad every one came! And we are so thrilled with the turn out and that you all were able to donate so much food!

Thanks again! And we will see you next year at our next Trunk or Treat so People Can Eat.

Make sure you stop by, email or see what the venders that helped out so much have on their sites. Support them for helping out!

Special thanks to Olive Garden Nampa store for providing 80 FREE kids meal vouchers, given away to the first A Thrifty Mom Readers who stopedp by our trunk.

Stevens Henager Collage Nampa Satellite - Organization and facility – Contact Jeff White and Ken Corder

Edmark Super Store - Provided Trunk or Treat candy bags

Games2U-Free Game Trailer and robot driving around event

DJ Mac Beats- Provided Free DJ services

Tates Rents- Provided Free Rentals

Photos By Kristina – Facebook or website – Event photos on the Facebook page

Young Hearts – Organogold – Kimble and Julie Johnson (Organo Coffee) – Free Jumpers

Cabalos Farms – Pumpkin Patch

Young Hearts Education CPR-Set Up

UL magazine – Promotion

Nampa Fire dept – Fire truck

Nampa Police Dept & McGruff The Crime Dog!

Canyon County Paramedics

All other Vendors that were there too…

Related posts:

1. Trunk or Treat So People Can Eat 10/27 (more local vendors welcome)
2. TRUNK OR TREAT SO PEOPLE CAN EAT 10/27 …. LOCAL READERS COME PARTY WITH US!
3. Trunk or Treat so People Can Eat 10/27 …. Local readers come party with us!

Ingard here, I was finally inspired enough to send my expired coupons to the overseas families by the Thrifty Mom coupon drive. Truely my hold back was my own thriftiness but I learned it was just a $4.95 expenditure, that is $1.24 per week.

This project couldn’t have been simpler.

• I started collecting each week for a month.
• I got two gallon baggies one I marked Food and the other Non-Food and I put the address (get that HERE) on a sticky note for later reference when shipping.
• Each week as I purged my coupon binder I just made the two piles and instead of recycling them, I just popped them in the corresponding baggies.
• Tuesday I went to the post office, and might I say they couldn’t have been nicer and even helped me with what I thought was a weird request. Come to find out there are several ‘regulars’ in my area – KUDOS to you ‘regulars’.
• I was even told to STUFF the envelope as much as it could hold and all for a flat $4.95 fee.

It was quite painless and highly rewarding to know that I was helping cash strapped American families overseas who are doing their part ensuring mine and my families freedoms here on our soil.

If you want to do this too get information HERE and HERE, remember they prefer that you use the United States Post Office priority mail envelopes(ships fastest) found at the post office for as low as $4.95 for the envelope and shipping.

Related posts:

1. Expired Coupons?
2. What do you do with your expired coupons?
3. Expired coupons ? Help the families in the Military

Put your kids in their Halloween costume,  grab a can of food for the food bank and plan to PARTY with 50 local businesses. Get some great coupons, and fill the kids trick or treat bags!!!

Trunk or Treat So People Can Eat will be held at Stevens-Henager College, Nampa Satellite on October 27th from 6pm-8pm. This event is geared to support the Idaho Food Bank with food donations, and increase community safety awareness with tips provided by the Nampa Police and Fire Departments. Halloween City will also be providing a spook patch for families.

ALL are welcome, cost is FREE we just as for a Food Donation for the Food bank…. hope to see you 10/27

Additional vendors are welcome; it’s a great way to connect with the community!

 If you would like to be a vendor Please contact 467-0501 ext 1620 to reserve a free spot for your trunk.

Related posts:

1. Local Corn Deal & help local Charities
2. Wendy’s Free Frosty Trick or Treat coupon booklet
3. Local deals at Other Mothers Nampa

I am excited to let you know that I have teamed up with the Idaho Statesman in a Support Our Troops coupon drive.  I will be at their expo booth collecting expired coupons to send to Military Families. They can use these coupon in the commissaries up to 6 months after they expire.

Just for stopping by you can enter to win a Case-it Coupon Binder and a $50 Albertsons Gift Card!!!! 

Date: Friday 9/23/2011

Time: 3-6pm

Place: Woman’s Celebration in Boise, Idaho Statesman Expo Booth

What: Bring your clipped coupons sorted into two groups “food” and “non food”

We will also have information about our upcoming FREE  COUPON CLASS  on October 6.  Come by the booth be the first to sign up!

START GATHERING THOSE EXPIRED COUPONS!!!! (please only bring newly expired coupons within 45 days)

Related posts:

1. Support our troops for free!
2. Thrifty Deal on Bread at the Womens Celebration
3. Please mark your calendars for the Food Drive on 6/17… bring the whole family, eat, and enter to win prizes!

*****

One of our long time readers sent us this set by set guest post on what you can do to make a difference with those expired coupons! Thanks Andi!

Do you throw them in the trash or even let them sit in your coupon sorter for months?

Next time you sort out your expired coupons don’t throw them in the trash! Throw them in an envelope and send them over seas to military families!

Military families shop at the PX, BX or Commissary and grocery bills can get very expensive while in another country, and expired coupons can help them save!

There are tons of sites you can use to find a military base or family to send them to.

I found a few through Ann Marie. She is stationed with her family in Germany right now.

And I found several others just by doing a simple Google search.

Most of them go like this:

1. Go onto their site and choose a base or family you would like to mail the coupons to.

2. Once you have found a good family, make sure the coupons are clipped (so as to not waste on postage).

3. I sort them into two piles, food and non-food products and put each pile into a plastic baggy (envelopes can work as well).

4. Then add up the total amount your coupons are worth, and list it on each baggy.

5. The next step may be different depending on which site you choose to go with.

- At Overseas Coupon Program you have to fill out a report and send it to them.

- At The Happy Housewife can contact her for more information on the details.

- At Grocery Saving Tips you just send them off.

UPDATE**** some readers have said their coupons have been returned when sent to the above links so here is a new link The Overseas Coupon Project,

Each site has a different amount of time the coupons are aloud to be expired for. They range anywhere from 2 to 6 months.

Happy Couponing!

Related posts:

1. What do you do with your expired coupons?
2. Expired Coupons?
3. Have old coupons? Help a Military family

You all know I love Albertsons and I thought this was yet another great way to give back while shopping at one of my favorite stores.

Support Locks of Love while shopping!
Albertsons has agreed to donate 1% of the first $50,000 spent and 5% on everything over to Locks of Love when shoppers use their Locks of Love Community Partners key tag. Please send your name and address to volunteer@locksoflove.org to request a key tag. Swipe it when you shop to support Locks of Love!

For more information click here

Thanks Renee

Related posts:

1. London Locks Giveaway
2. One more reason I LOVE ALBERTSONS
3. Albertsons, if you are a couponer you got to LOVE this store!!!

Keep 1 for yourself and pass the others out to your neighbors.

Don’t want to wait that long or want to send something out of town? Use this  10% off Flowers, Gifts, and Plants

Thanks MoJo Savings

Related posts:

1. Help a distant neighbor
2. September FREEBIE at Aerie
3. $60 September Coupon book at Walgreens

Help your local teacher NOT spend their own money for their classroom. You can go to School Family Media’s Teacherwishlist.com sponsored by Bounty and Puffs, get started HERE

Go to TeacherWishList.com now, print off your teacher’s wish list and get a $1-off coupon good on any Bounty and Puffs product (limit 1 Bounty and 1 Puffs mailed coupon per household allowing 6-8 weeks for delivery) —the perfect pair for your classroom paper towel and tissue needs. Together, we can make this a great school year, for those that we all love.

Thanks One Momma Saving Money

Related posts:

1. High value Puffs coupons
2. Bounty high value coupon offered each Friday in June to first 5000
3. Click to Give …. simple way to give back

Vendors who will have prizes picked up directly from them:

Simply Stylin-$150.00 gift basket

Winning ticket number # 723749

Winners name Vicky Mann

Other Mothers- $50.00 gift card

Winning ticket# 723446

Winners Name Ashley Ashby

Candice with Scentsy -3 pack scentsy scents, mouse pad, car candle, etc

Winning ticket# 723876

Winners name Eden Bloomquist

Take Shape For Life-Free consultation

Winning ticket# 725500

Winners Name -Jaimy Swanson

Port Of Subs -Gift Card (3 winners)

winning ticket # 725657- Cori Strasser

Winning ticket # 725726- Adam Rueda

Winning ticket # 723467- Karma Gardner

Vendors Who Have Requested Prizes Are Picked Up At Stevens~Henager Nampa:

Red Robin- Gift Basket

Winning ticket # 723921

Winners Name Ryan Jody

Cystic Fibrosis- 2 tickets to Regal Cinemas

Winning ticket # 723601

Winners name- Paige Perkins

Wild Rush Flowers- 1 free u pick bouquet(2 winners)

ticket number  # 724503 Kathy Sewright

ticket number # 725705 –Alexis Shaeffer

Snapshots by Jolene- $75 dollar gift card

Winning ticket # 723898

Winners name -Rhonda Bautista

Cake a Minute-15% off gift certificate

Winning ticket # 723847

Winners name Kim Munn

Costco-OrgoCart Gardening Cart

Winners name- Kristy Metlan

Albertsons- $50 gift card

winning ticket #725748

Winners name Megan Herron

Meridian Hospitality Group- Free Jacuzzi Suite  (2 winners)

Winning ticket  # 723503-Anj Call

Winning ticket # unlegible-Valeri Rhodes

Idaho Athletic Club (4 winners)- 3 month all access pass

Winning ticket # 724475-Garrett Perkins

Winning ticket#725841-Aubrie Tank

Winning ticket# 725897-Lisa Eck

Winning ticket# 725864-Mandi Tank

Thanks to everyone for coming and helping us meet our goal of 4 HUGE barrels of food, for the Idaho Food Bank.  We had over 400 people thru the door.  We gathered 46 units of blood our goal was 40, these will go to save the lives of others!  We had a full coupon class, and look forward to doing this all again next year!

Thanks again to Stevens Henager College for being a gracious host. Selflessly volunteering endless hours of time, letting us use there beautiful building and making this all possible!

Related posts:

1. Save Lives Save Money- save the date 6/17
2. Save Money Save Lives- we are looking for 55 volunteers to donate blood on 6/17
3. MORE FUN AT SAVE LIVES SAVE MONEY

Q’ doba is here with pico de gallo or salsa verde and chips! Was taken to lunch there this week; had a great time!

Costco is here with their cookies! They are giving away cart for the garden called an ORGOCART.

Port o Subs is here with sub sandwiches to taste, oh so delish!

A Thrifty Mom and the Red Robin bird … shaking the tail feather together!

Red Robin, YUMMM and Boy of the Hour.

Snapshots by Jolene- Such beautiful pics!

Organo Gold-Great tasting AND healthy!

Wild Rush Flowers-With a floral arrangement too beautiful to pass up!

Related posts:

1. MORE FUN AT SAVE LIVES SAVE MONEY
2. Save Lives & Save Money- Save the date June 17th
3. More Fun at Save Lives Save Money

We just filled our 3rd barrel!!!!!!

Related posts:

1. A Thrifty Mom will be on Channel 2 News Today
2. Free Subscription to U.S. News & World Report
3. 1 oz bottle of Wonderful Tonight Hair Repair…free

The kids are enjoying the Fire Truck

Red Robin’s Bird is here, having fun too!

Denali Pizza! So YUMMY! This stuff is really ROCKING awesome!

The Red Cross is even enjoying the event! LOTS of good is being done.

Simply Stylin gift bag… bring your donations for a raffle tickets and enter your name to win prizes!

Candice with Scentsy is here and she has this great gift pack!

The Idaho Food Bank bins are filling up…we have 2 bins filled and more waiting! Come on down!

Yummy cake balls drizzled with chocolate and coconut or sugar crystals, these come from Cake a Minute

Related posts:

1. Save Money Save Lives- we are looking for 55 volunteers to donate blood on 6/17
2. Save Lives Save Money- save the date 6/17
3. Save Lives & Save Money- Save the date June 17th