Put Those Expired Coupons to Use

With the recent difficult financial times, many people have recently become more serious users of coupons. There is even a show on TLC entitled "Extreme Couponing".  I have been using coupons for over a year now and find that it really does help to lower our grocery bill.  But what can you do with your coupons once they have expired?

It is a little known fact that military families stationed overseas are allowed to use coupons at the grocery stores on base for up to 6 months past their expiration dates.  These families are often young, far from home, and living just above the poverty line.  What better use for your expired coupons, which are now worth nothing to you, than to help another family?

Collecting expired coupons is a great civic project for churches, scout troops, or even your office.  All it takes is a box and someone to mail them once a month.  I usually sort mine into two Ziploc bags, one labelled "food" and the other "non-food".  The non-food bag contains coupons for everything from pet food to shampoo to toys.  You can even send those coupons from the newspaper for products that you know you will never use.  The only thing that is not useful is store-specific coupons, such as coupons that are only good at Walgreens or Petsmart.

There are several bases that are accepting coupons.  Perhaps the easiest way to find one is to go through the charity Overseas Coupon Program (www.ocpnet.org).  There, you can "adopt" a base and regularly send them all of your coupons.  They ask that the coupons be no more than 2 months expired at the time of shipping so that they have time to sort them and put them to use on the other end while they are still useful.

Once you have your coupons collected, simply put them in a manilla envelope and take them to the post office.  You will have to fill out a customs form since you are shipping something overseas, but the post office people will help you with that.  It really is an easy process.

This is a program that really works.  In my first few months mailing coupons overseas, I received 2 "thank-you" letters from military wives who had used my coupons.  This is something that is easy to do and will show your support and gratitude to our troops and to their families who are stationed so far from home.

Using Our Gifts

Recently, I was reading in the news about the terrible flooding in Vermont following the devastating rains of Hurricane Irene.  The tiny town of Pittsfield, population 427, was completely cut off when the Tweed River overflowed Route 100, turning the town into an island.  One local restaurant owner, Jason Evans, saw a need and stepped up.  Since all of the meat in his restaurant, the Clear River Tavern, would soon go to waste due to lack of electricity, he instead held a barbecue and cooked for the whole town.  He used his resources, which in this case was a freezer full of food, to feed his neighbors in the time of crisis.

In Texas, where wildfires have destroyed the homes of hundreds in the Austin area, U-Haul of Austin is offering 30-days of free storage to those who were able to escape the flames with a few cherished belongings but now have no place to store them.  They have given what they have, storage space, to help their neighbors.

Anheuser-Busch, known for bottling beer, is also a contributor during national emergencies.  They are uniquely set up to bottle beverages, so during times of crisis they switch to bottling water and donate it where it is needed.  Since this program began in 1988, Anheuser-Busch has donated over 70 million cans of fresh water, 1.4 million of which were donated in 2011 so far.  They have the ability to effectively bottle and distribute water due to this beer-bottling infrastructure, which is something that most businesses are unable to effectively do.

Likewise, Tide is becoming famous for their "Loads of Hope" program.  This mobile truck is equipped with 30 energy-efficient washers and dryers and is capable of washing 300 loads of laundry per day.  It deploys to scenes of disasters.  Again, Tide's business is in laundry, and they are helping where they are best able.

Romans 12:6-8 reads, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.  If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy according with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."  U-Haul is not expected to provide bottled water, nor is Tide expected to provide storage space.  Each gives according to their own gifts and resources.

I have seen emails from Austin where people who have grazing land are offering it, free of charge, to those with large animals who have fled the fires.  I have seen people offering rental properties, free of charge, to displaced families.  What can you offer to your fellow man?  In what way have you particularly been blessed and can share with others?  Prayerfully consider what it is that you can do to help your fellow man, not only in times of crisis but in your everyday life.

  

Postpartum Chicken Casserole

On Easter weekend 2009, my husband and I were blessed with the birth of our son Sean.  We were new to town and didn't know many people.  Our families were all out-of-town.  We had only been members of our church for one month.  Our church ladies reached out to us and helped us so much by providing meals every-other-day for 2 weeks.  In fact, when we pulled into the driveway from the hospital, someone that I didn't even know was waiting in front of the house with a hot meal.  

This ministry means a lot to me not only as a recipient of this kindness but also because I believe that it touches peoples' hearts when they need it.  I have seen people added to the church through this, and even saw the parents of a new mom join simply because of the way their daughter had been treated.  If your church doesn't have an active support structure for new moms, I highly recommend that you start one.


This was one of the recipes brought to me.  It is from Virginia Wagner, a great cook and wonderful friend.


Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. sour cream
1/2 stick butter
3/4 cup chicken broth (we will make it here, so don't buy it)
2 cups Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing mix
Garlic salt
Pepper


When I made this, I doubled the recipe, but was a little short on chicken, so it looks creamier than it really is.  Stick to the recipe and you will be fine.


First, put the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil, and boil for 35 minutes.  This will both cook the chicken breasts and generate the chicken broth that you need for later.  It will foam up quite a bit, so don't wander off or you will have a mess on your stove.  

After the chicken has finished cooking, move it to a cutting board and chop it into whatever shape makes you smile.  You are going for bite-sized pieces here.  I am lazy, so I just did little cubes.  Save 3/4 cup of that broth that you just made from the boiling chicken and pitch the rest.

Butter your dish.  For a single recipe, use a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish.  For a double recipe, use a 13x9" pan.  Add the chicken to the buttered dish and sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper to your taste.

In a medium bowl, mix together the sour cream and cream of chicken soup.  Layer that over the chicken.

Put the 1/2 stick of butter and the chicken broth in a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil.  Boil it just until the butter melts, then add the stuffing mix.  Do not try to substitute Stove-Top for the Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix.  I don't know why, but it really messes with the taste.  And yes, I know that Stove-Top is easier to find in the grocery store.  Let's not be lazy here, people!  Anyway, top the casserole with the stuffing/broth/butter mix.


Cover the whole thing with aluminum foil and stick it into a 350 degree oven.  Bake it for an hour.  Try not to eat the whole thing in one sitting or you will have to buy new pants, though it will be tempting.

This casserole also freezes well (before you bake it), so you can make several and save some for later.  Just let them thaw in the refrigerator all day and bake at night.  It also makes great leftovers for several days without any changes in consistency or flavor.


Thank you, Virginia Wagner, for bringing me this wonderful meal.