Since October of 2012, the Retired and Senior Volunteer
Program (RSVP) has been collecting, sorting, and shipping coupons to families
overseas in support of the Expired Coupons for Overseas Military Families or
(ECOM). Military families do not have access to manufactures coupons overseas.
Having no coupons is a challenge since they have limited shopping options and
often must pay more for the same item that we do in America. The bonus for
families stationed overseas is if they can get their hands on manufactured
coupons they can use them up to six months past the coupon expiration date at
the commissaries/PX/store on base. This helps the families stationed overseas
save money that can be used for other needed items for their families,
including those ever-expensive phone calls back home to their cherished loved
ones.
When RSVP started this project, it was just a small way to
help a few families. No one ever imagined the incredible response to the call
for coupons. In short, we underestimated the generosity of everyone’s
willingness to share their coupons and share you did to the tune of 1.9 million
coupons that have been shipped to bases all over the World. Places like Japan,
Italy, Belgium, Korea, Spain and the United Kingdom have all benefited from
your generosity.
However, we have a goal and a lofty one at that. We would
love to hit that 2 million coupon mark by the end of this year and with your
continued support we can!
So how does it work?
We serve as the
location for coupon donations from RSVP volunteers, community members,
churches, and more who want to help support our Military families. Simply drop
off or mail us your unused manufactures coupons (sorry no store specific or
restaurant coupons permitted) only manufactures to 302 S. Union St, Decatur.
This is our hub for volunteers who then help sort and cut coupons for shipment
to a base overseas. Coupons must be checked for expiration dates to ensure we
send coupons that families can still use.
We then package the coupons and prepare the paperwork to have the box
shipped to a base and deliver to our local post office for mailing. Each box
can contain as many as 23,000 coupons.
It can typically take up to one month to fill a box for shipping. That
means we must fill no less than five boxes before years end to hit our goal of
2 million.
How you can help
You can send us manufactures coupons. Please send only
coupons that have only been expired for one month or less.
You can volunteer to help sort or cut coupons (in our office
or at your home)
You can help provide the funds for shipping ($17.40 per box)
Thank you for your continued support
Charlie Gillaspie
RSVP Director
