Couponers share stockpiles with those in need

May 13, 2011 (WPVI) -- Last May, Kaley Ehret organized a drive in Souderton to collect food, toiletries and household items to donate to the Keystone Opportunity Center Food Pantry.

Ehret's the mom behind the money-saving blog ChaChing On A Shoestring. She organized the drive as a way for her coupon-using blog followers to give back -- by donating freebies and inexpensive items from their stockpiles. She called in Couponing for Community.

Ehret says, "We as couponers have the resources and the abilities to stretch our dollars so much further. As a result, we can provide for our own families, but we also have extra to give away. Couponing levels the playing field of who is able to give because, as you shop, you get so much more for your money."

Ehret's success inspired more than 100 frugal bloggers nationwide to join in this year's efforts. Among them, For the Mommas blogger Shannon Shafer.

Shafer says, "On Saturday, Kaley and I will be at the Dunkin Donuts in Limerick and we will be collecting items, both food and toileteries, for the Community Nutrition Coalition."

Mama Cheaps blogger Devon Weaver says extreme couponers have been getting a bad rap as excessive hoarders. But her readers are thrilled to share their bargains.

Weaver says, "The time is now for couponers to come out and say, 'this is not who we are.' We use our coupons to shop the sales , make savvy choices, stick within our budgets, but also give back to the community. "

Donna and North Penn Under Ten blogger Aimee Heavener will be manning additional collection sites tomorrow, collecting items for Community Housing Services of Lansdale.

Heavener says you can find them at, "The Lansdale Public Library, the North Wales Area Library, and the North Penn YMCA."

All of the bloggers have more information about their efforts on their blogs:
ChaChing On A Shoestring
For The Mommas
Mama Cheaps
North Penn Under Ten

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