Earlier today, I posted about some of the different ways to help victims of the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma (you can view that post here). Several of you suggested an easy (and free!) way to help out from afar using Box Tops for Education and their current Facebook promotion (check out this post for all the details).

Here’s what to do if you want use Box Tops to help…

* Head on over to the Box Tops for Education Facebook page,  and “like” them
* Click on the “Summer Countdown” tab

* Enter the school’s zip code (to help support Plaza Towers Elementary School, enter zip code 73160)
* Select this school and they’ll get 5 FREE Box Tops

* And then keep spreading the word!

As most of you already know, Oklahoma City was hit by multiple tornadoes and severe storms yesterday. In addition to killing 24 people, over 120 people have been left wounded and many homes have been completely destroyed. I have received quite a few emails from Hip2Save readers who were directly or indirectly affected by these tornadoes and are asking that we all ban together to provide assistance to those in need.

(Photo Credit: AP)

What can you do?

* Make a donation to the American Red Cross by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

* Make a donation to the Salvation Army by visiting SalvationArmyUSA.org, calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or texting the word STORM to 80888 to make a $10 donation.

* Make a monetary donation to the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief. If you live locally, donations, such as bottled water, work gloves, boots, flashlights, batteries and non-perishable food (NO CLOTHES at this time) can be taken to News 9 at 7401 N Kelley Ave, Oklahoma City, OK.

Now it’s you turn… what suggestions do you have?

And to all of you in Oklahoma that have been affected, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

If you were able to eat a healthy breakfast this morning or make a nourishing dinner for your family last night, you are very fortunate as 1 out of every 6 Americans struggles with hunger. But here’s your chance to help! Tomorrow, May 11th, the National Association of Letter Carriers is calling everyone to help “Stamp Out Hunger” with the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Stamp Out Hunger is the largest one-day food drive in the nation and will help feed millions of families in all 50 states!

This is a perfect time for you to go through your stockpile and donate as many non-perishable and unexpired food items as possible to support this cause!  SO…grab your cans of soup, non-glass bottles of Juice, canned fruits and veggies, bags of pasta, cake & brownie mixes, etc. and place all these items in a bag.  Then be sure to leave them at your mailbox this Saturday, May 11th as part of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Your letter carrier will pick up your items and deliver them to local food banks or pantries.

Let’s help make it a success by clearing off our shelves for those in need…I guarantee that you will be able to re-stock those shelves at little to no cost with all the great deals we’re sure to score in the next few months. Are you with me?!

(Thanks, Theresa and Family Savings!)

Here’s an easy way to help a child in need courtesy of Kelloggs! Just head here, click on the Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or YouTube icon, and share the Share Breakfast promo to donate a FREE breakfast to a child in need. What a simple way to pay it forward!

(Thanks, Lola!)

Wow – Slim Jim is still offering up this awesome promo that I posted about back in December! Just head on over to the Slim Jim site to write a message of encouragement to the troops and they’ll send them a Slim Jim along with your note. They will be sending up to 1,000,000 Slim Jims to the troops! How cool is that?!

*Slim Jim will donate up to $500,000 worth of product to the USO which amounts to over 1,000,000 Slim Jims consisting of a combination of Giant Sticks, Monster Sticks and Snack Sticks. Slim Jim will send up to 500,000 Slim Jims customized with thank you notes from consumers. Opportunity ends April 1, 2013.

(Thanks, Freebie Finding Mom!)

Today is a very special day… it’s Thank a Mailman Day!

Today is the day to give a BIG thank you to your Mail Carrier who brings super sweet deals to your mailbox and doorstep six days a week! And with all of the freebies and samples we score every day… well, most of us keep our Mail Carriers super busy .

Here are some ideas on how to show your Mail Carrier you appreciate their service:

* Put together a gift bag of some of the recent freebies you’ve scored. For example, sample sized products from Bath & Body Works or non-holiday packaged treats you scored from various Christmas Clearance deals would make for a great inexpensive, yet still thoughtful thank-you gift.

* A pair of gloves or a package of hand or foot warmers would be a great way to warm up your mail carrier’s day. These are usually inexpensive and can be found at any sporting goods store or online…I’ve posted many glove deals previously as well.

* Have your kiddos make a card or draw a picture for your Mail Carrier.

* No matter what, a big smile and a thank you is always appreciated by anyone! 

(Photo Credit: Who Arted)

Here are a few comments Hip2Save Readers left when I posted this last year…

My dad’s a mailman, and I can tell you that (if he speaks for all mail carriers) they appreciate even the slightest thoughtful gift/card/note. He brings home gifts from his customers, usually they’re things they’ve baked for him (no kidding, he’s brought home pies, cakes, homemade candies and more!), but even if it’s just a ‘thank you’ note, he is always grateful to be appreciated. 

As a rural mail carrier, I can tell you it is very nice to be remembered. I feel like all 385 families on my route are a part of my family. I have done this for 22 years and I seen many of kiddos grow up and now are parents themselves. It is nice to know that sometimes they think of me too. Sometimes I bring good news and other times not, but I always try to do it with a smile!

With all that in mind, how are YOU going to thank your Mail Carrier? Will you make them a snack or give them a smile and a wave? Let me know what you will be doing to show your appreciation below.

If you’re like me and have done the majority of your Christmas shopping online this year, then don’t forget to thank that important person that delivers all of your online goodies (and freebies!) right to your door… your mailman or mailwoman! You can see how I’ve shown my appreciation previously by watching the end of this video.

Also, check out the email that I recently received from reader, Kelsey…

First I want to say thanks for all you do! You saved my family so much this holiday season and you are always posting great freebies! This is the time of year when my mailman works the hardest. Delivering packages, free samples, and coupons! So I decided to put a package together for him. I included razors, shave gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and some homemade goodies!  When we gave it to him on Saturday, he was so grateful. I think it would be a good idea to remind couponers to give their mailman something little for Christmas!

(Photo Credit)

How are YOU going to thank your Mail Carrier? Will you make them a sweet treat, leave them a special card or give them a gift? Let us know what you will be doing to show your appreciation!

I have the most generous, kind, and loving readers. I am so incredibly lucky. During the 4 years that I’ve been blogging, I have witnessed countless times an outpouring of love and support for one another. It’s amazing the compassion I’ve seen. So that’s where this challenge comes in…

As you may have read, Anne Curry is challenging everyone to commit to doing acts of kindness in honor of the victims killed in Newtown, CT. Like many of you across the country, I am more than ready to take part in this challenge and I imagine that many of you are as well. I truly believe that paying it forward with random acts of kindness can have a powerful impact on your own life as well as the lives of others! What a wonderful way to remind one another that we live in a country filled with so much good.

So who wants to join me in this challenge?! I am hoping that quite a few of you are nodding yes. If this is indeed the case, I think it will be very inspiring to put together a video containing many different acts of kindness by all of you wonderful Hip2Savers.

If you are willing to participate, submit a video clip of you or someone you know in the act of paying it forward. You can use a regular video camera or even an iPhone or smartphone to submit your video clip (there is absolutely no need for this to be a professional video). The video can be as short or long as you want and you are welcome to submit more than one video. It’s all about showing how great the world is and just how much good surrounds us.

Once you have captured an act of kindness on video, please email the video to bekind@hip2save.com. Include your first name and the city and state where your act of kindness took place. Note that if you send your video via email, there is a possibility that your video may appear on Hip2Save.com.

* If you do not have access to a video camera/device, you are welcome to email photographs as well (as long as they have been taken by you or someone you know).

Here are some ideas for ways to pay it forward…

* Be a coupon fairy and leave a coupon behind in a store
* Walk someone’s dog
* Babysit for free
* Clean someone’s house
* Give a lottery ticket to a stranger
* Treat a police officer to a cup of coffee
* Bring some goodies to the fire station
* Pay the highway toll for the person behind you
* Donate food, clothing, and money to the needy
* Smile at every person you meet today
* Raise money for a person who lost their home to natural disasters or fire
* Hold a garage sale and give the proceeds to an organization who helps others

I can’t wait to be inspired by the videos and pictures you send my way!

Hip2Save This Holiday Guest Post Submitted By Reader Tera B…

One of my favorite Christmas traditions involves one of my favorite charities. A local church hosts a Christmas celebration each year for a local shelter which provides safety services for women and children who are seeking shelter from relationship violence and substance abuse, as well as mental health issues. As part of the celebration, each family is given a gift basket assembled from donated items according to their needs and wishes. As you can imagine, having fled from abuse, many of these families have nothing, and the gifts mean so much to them.

I shop clearance sales and great Hip2Save deals year ’round to donate to the effort, and I usually end up donating quite a large pile of gifts for not very much spent out of pocket.

The best part for me, though, is each year when my preschool aged son and I help put together the gift baskets, “shopping” from the piles of donations to find the perfect gift for each person.

I love the way this activity opens up the door to conversation about compassion and mercy and reminds both of us how blessed we are to have a home and an intact, loving family.

Serving together and giving to others is the perfect–and hip –way for our family to celebrate the true meaning of this beautiful season.

For more information on my Hip2Save This Holiday series and to learn how you can participate in the fun, click here!

Here’s another way to show your support for the Newtown Community. The Post Office has now set up a P.O. box. Check out what was recently posted here:

“We understand that there is an outpouring of support for everyone in the Newtown area and we hope to make it easier for those who wish to send encouragement and messages of compassion to those affected,” Kimberly J. Peters, Connecticut Valley District Manager for the U.S. Postal Service, said in a statement. “Through letters and cards, families will be able to hold that friendship in their hands and to read those kind words at a time and place that supports their pace of healing.”

If you would like to send a note or letter, address your envelope to:

Messages of Condolence for Newtown
PO Box 3700
Newtown CT 06470

For more ideas on ways to help, check out this post as well as the comments.

My heart hurts. I feel helpless. I want to help. I need to help.

Here is an email that I received from reader, Kelly…

Friday morning, the best man in my upcoming wedding/ my fiancee’s best friend lost his daughter in the Newtown shooting. Olivia Engel was the sweetest little thing and we couldn’t be more devastated. We’ve set up a fund to help benefit her family.

We want to help make sure her services are covered and that her dad gets to stay home with the family for a few weeks to grieve and heal.

Here is the link to the benefit page. There are tons of recent pics of Olivia that we have permission to share: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheEngelFamilyFund

Any help you’re able to provide will be so appreciated.

If you feel as sad and helpless as I do and would like to do something, consider making a donation to Olivia Engel’s family. Here is the direct link to make a donation via Paypal. And if you know of other families who are suffering as a result of this tragedy (and you have permission to share their information), please mention them in the comments below or email me directly – collin@hip2save(dot)com

Wow! I’m just lovin’ this promo Slim Jim is offering up! Just head on over to the Slim Jim site to write a message of encouragement to the troops and they’ll send them a Slim Jim along with your note. They will be sending up to 1,000,000 Slim Jims to the troops! How cool is that?!

(Thanks, Frugal Fil-Am!)

As Thanksgiving approaches, many families across the United States will be crowding around their tables to enjoy the comforts of a warm meal with loved ones. However, according to this report from Feeding America, nearly 1 million New Yorkers will rely on emergency food this year, including more than 1 in 5 children who live in families who don’t always know where their next meal is coming from.

With that being said, if you’re looking to give back to those who were greatly impacted by Super Storm Sandy and the current Winter Storm Athena, here’s a way you can do just that on Groupon! For every $10 raised by this Grassroots campaign, City Harvest will help provide a healthy meal for 40 hungry New York residents this Thanksgiving.

Knowing they will have a meal available can help make the holidays a less stressful time for families who are food insecure. This year, City Harvest aims to collect more than 42 million pounds of produce and food from restaurants, grocers, farms, and manufacturers, which would otherwise go to waste. Head on over here to donate to this great cause and help those in need.

*Fine Print:
100% of donations go directly to City Harvest. Donations are automatically applied. Must provide full name at checkout.

(Thanks, Esther!)

Wow! Check out this neat promo that Shutterfly is offering up! Just head on over to the Shutterfly Facebook page and click on the “Thank the Troops” tab, then allow the app to send a free thank you card to an American Hero!

Over 1.5 million troops serve our great nation. Many of them will be overseas, in harm’s way, and away from their families over this holiday season. Our mission is simple—to send a thank you card to every American hero. To succeed we need your support. Just select a card, add a personal message (or photo) and click send.

(Thanks, Couponers Living Free!)

(Photo Credit: Boston.com)

As most of you know, the NorthEastern part of the United States (primarily New Jersey, New York and Connecticut) was recently hit by Hurricane Sandy. In addition to killing almost 100 people, many homes were completely destroyed by massive flooding, wind and fires and many residents are still without power. I have received quite a few emails from Hip2Save readers who were directly or indirectly affected by this hurricane and are asking that we all ban together to provide assistance to those in need.

What can you do?

* Make a donation to the American Red Cross by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-HELPNOW or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Note that Verizon will match customer text-to-donate contributions to American Red Cross relief efforts up to one million dollars.

* Donate blood. The Red Cross is urging immediate blood and platelet donations to support the blood needs of those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Click here to make an appt.

* Make a donation to the Humane Society of the United States to help animals and families who evacuated their homes in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction.

* Make a donation to a local animal shelter via PetFinder.com.

* Make a donation to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. Note that financial donations have the greatest impact; in addition, you can donate food, grocery and baby items.

* Swagbucks: Every Swag Buck donated equals $0.01, so for example donating 1,000 Swag Bucks is equivalent to donating ten dollars. Support the American Red Cross as well as those affected by Superstorm Sandy and donate your Swag Bucks today. Go here for more details.

* Through December 31, 2012, Hilton will give you 10 HHonors Bonus Points for every $1 USD donated to support the relief efforts. In addition, Hilton is matching all donations up to $100,000 USD. Click here for more information.

Check out these companies that are reaching out to help…

Sears
In addition to delivering more than 100 truckloads filled with supplies like generators, chain saws, vacuums, flashlights, batteries and lanterns, Sears has added up to $20 worth of Shop Your Way Rewards points to the accounts of existing members hit the hardest by the storm. These points can be used through 11/8. Check out the full press release here.

Verizon Wireless
For areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Verizon has opened free device charging stations. Click here for a list of locations.

Now it’s you turn… what suggestions do you have?

Have you been directly affected by Hurricane Sandy or do you know families that have been directly affected? We want to help! Please complete this quick survey by clicking here so that we can send donations to those who need them the most. Thank you.

And to all of you in the NorthEast that have been affected, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Wow! Here’s an awesome way to give back and to help fight poverty all over the world without having to spend anything out of pocket. Kiva.org lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses all over the world enabling you to essentially “sponsor a business” and help the world’s working poor gain economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you’ll receive email updates from the borrower you’ve sponsored; and as loans are repaid, you get your loan money back and can then choose to fund another business. So cool!

But here’s the best part! For a limited time, you can register for Kiva.org through this link (yes, this is my referral link) and you’ll snag a FREE $25 credit meaning you’ll be able to make your very first loan on Kiva for FREE (no credit card info required)! Plus, once you sign up, you can refer friends and family so they’ll earn a FREE $25 credit and you’ll also earn a FREE $25 credit each time someone registers through your referral link (so feel free to share your links in the comment section below).

(Thanks, Steph!)

Just head on over to the Febreze Facebook page and click on the “Treat the Troops” tab, then click the “Donate Now” button to send a U.S. hero serving in combat a Febreze Set & Refresh product, along with a care package of toiletries, magazines, letters, and more! How cool is that?!

(Thanks for the reminder, Jordan!)

(Thanks, Freebie Shark!)

February 4th is a very special day… it’s Thank a Mailman Day!

This is your chance to give a BIG thank you to your Mail Carrier who brings super sweet deals to your mailbox and doorstep six days a week! And with all of the freebies and samples we score every day… well, most of us keep our Mail Carriers super busy.

Here are some ideas on how to show your Mail Carrier you appreciate their service:

* Leave them a note in your mailbox with a gift card to a local restaurant or coffee shop. We post lots of yummy deals and freebies every day, why not surprise them with a treat? I know a warm caffeinated beverage gets me going every day!

* Speaking of freebies, why not put together a gift bag of some of your recent scores? Sample sized products from Bath & Body Works or a Yankee candle… even Krispy Kreme coupons. They all make inexpensive, but yet still thoughtful gifts to give.

* Warm up their cold days by giving them a pair of gloves or a package of hand or foot warmers. These are usually inexpensive and can be found at any sporting goods store or online… I’ve posted many glove deals previously as well.

* Have your kiddos draw a picture for your Mail Carrier or make them a card.

(Photo Credit)

* No matter what, a big smile and a thank you is always appreciated by anyone!

How are YOU going to thank your Mail Carrier? Will you make them a snack or give them a smile and a wave? Let me know what you will be doing to show your appreciation below.

Found in 2008, this organization is made up of professional photographers, artists, children, and other volunteers nationwide that provide free programs and services (like free photo shoots, special cards and mail, gift packages etc.) to children who suffer from any type of serious illness or life altering disability. Check out the 2012 Team of Heroes by clicking here.

And through February 1st, you can help Inspiration Through Art send Valentine’s Day cards to its little heroes. Here’s what you need to do…

Keep in mind that if you want to help in other ways, you can opt to donate stamps and/or white, red or pink envelopes. Click here for more information.

(Thanks for sharing this wonderful organization with me, Racheal!)

Here is an awesome deal to help celebrate Veteran’s Day while also helping to support those who are currently serving. Head on over to LivingSocial where $15 will get you an American Flag shipped right to your door AND will also enable the USO to provide a deployment care package (a $30 value!) to a soldier or to put your donation toward other efforts for our men and women of the armed forces. Each care package is filled with items like snacks, toiletries, and phone cards. How awesome is that?!

To purchase this great deal, click here. If you do not see it featured at the top, scroll down and you should see it under the Nearby Deals list. Then simply click on Buy Now and follow the instructions.

Fine Print: Limit one per person, additional as gifts; Entire value must be used in a single visit; Includes shipping; $30 credit will go toward a care package or other USO efforts; Customers will check out at the USO and receive a US flag to commemorate their donation; Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by federal law; Other conditions apply; PAID VALUE EXPIRES ON November 11, 2016; PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES ON November 11, 2012

(Thanks, Jenn!)

Amy Fallas from Amsterdam in upstate NY: While walking through hard hit areas of my own town, I came across a family of five that had been greatly effected by this storm. Mom and Dad were busy cleaning and sorting through what was left of their home. Their three older sons were helping, and all alone playing with her Littlest Petshop toy was 6 year old Maria. I asked if it would be OK to just sit with her and keep her company. Maria is going into the first grade and she is very excited. I asked her what she thought of the storm and all the flooding and her response was both heart warming and heart breaking. Maria told me “It’s OK, because after every storm there is a rainbow.” So simple and so true. They say the greatest gift in life is the gift of giving, I would love nothing more then to be able to give Maria that rainbow.

Supplies needed in Amsterdam: Cleaning products, new or gently used clothing for men women & children of all ages, gift cards, non-perishable items, baby formula & baby food, diapers, wipes, personal care items, pet food, toys for boys & girls of all ages. Donations will be sorted by volunteers and distributed to the flood victims in need. Please send your donations to the following non-profit:

Liberty Arc
C/O Salsa Picante Carmen Irizarry
43 Liberty Dr.
Amsterdam NY 12010
(518)842-5080
(518)527-3235

Kristin Kilmer also from upstate NY: A friend and I are organizing a local fundraiser/supply drive for kids that are getting ready to start school soon & their families have lost so much. We are working a venue/date & list of items needed. Most of the focus will be on school supplies, clothes & items such as that. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. I will house all items until the event takes place. Thanks for your thoughts/prayers. Donations can be sent to my address:

Kristin Kilmer
115 Mountainview Ave
Troy, NY 12180

Stephanie Ackley from Vermont: I’m writing to you from Rutland VT. Our state was ravaged and destroyed by Irene. Roads and bridges are washed away, people are isolated and trapped in small towns, and two people are still missing as we try to pick up the pieces of this devastating event. The Vermont Strong Store isn’t my website, but I’m trying to help get the word out. T-shirts are for sale for $25. The proceeds go to the Vermont Foodbank to purchase supplies for the isolated towns and cities where people can’t get out of. I would greatly appreciate any word of mouth and all support related to this. My mom, brother, uncle and grand parents are just a few of the people that are trapped and can’t get to town.

Valerie from Connecticut: I’m at work typing this email to you and the Hip2save Readers. At 6am Sunday, my power went out in Connecticut at my home and my dear husband and I are still in the dark – 5 days later. Might have power by next Wednesday 9/7/11. Needless to say, our meals are much different. We purchase food each night at the store to grill, while listening to a small battery operated radio and heading to bed extremely early. Our older son attends college in Williamsburg VA and had to be evacuated by Friday and could not return to campus until mid day Tuesday. He did a road trip to Kentucky to visit new friends. He’s safe now. Our younger son, had to be moved into his new college in Mass; so packing was a challenge. But all and all, we are doing well. It’s amazing how we rely so much on electricity for everything. We have no land line phone service or cable either. I hope all the hip2save readers that were affected by Hurricane Irene are doing well. Would love to know.

Note: If you want to send cash, the American Red Cross will gladly accept your donation for use with people affected by Irene, floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes.

If you live in one of the areas that was recently affected by Hurricane Irene, please feel free to share your experience with us. In addition, I encourage you to mention any local non-profit organizations in your area that are in need of assistance.

* If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Did you miss the other Hip2Help Tour Videos?! If so, click below to watch them all…

Video #1: Griffin, GA
Video #2: Alex City & Birmingham, AL
Video #3: Alex City, AL & Memphis, TN
Video #4: Calhoun County, AL

**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

* Did you see the first three Hip2Help Tour videos? check them out here, here and here!

So, our Hip2Help Tour came to an end on Sunday. It was bittersweet. I definitely felt sad stepping out of that bus… the bus I had called home for the past 8 days. At the same time, I was excited to be able to head to my real home and sleep in my much missed bed.

This tour was an incredible eye opener for me. Life is such a blessing. A blessing we all too often forget is a blessing at all. I am going to make sure to stop and smell the roses… take time each day to really take everything in. Take time to smile, laugh with my kiddos, and spend quality time with my hubby. I have a wonderful life.

Alright, so before posting the 3rd video, I thought you all may be interested in hearing a little bit about how it was traveling in a bus with 9 kiddos and coping with a nasty bug that we all seemed to catch… yes, a total of 21 of us caught this very contagious virus.

I started to feel sick on the night of the 7th and when I woke up on the 8th (at 3:30am due to us having to be in the next town by 9:30am) I knew I was the next victim. I tried to sleep during the long drive and constantly awoke to that horrible nauseous feeling. Once we arrived at the hotel, I could barely walk to our hotel room as the little black dots started to form and dizziness ensued. I literally crawled on the elevator and when I tried to crawl off (according to my husband who was carrying all the luggage) I fainted, hit my head on the elevator door and then threw up all over the carpet in the hotel hallway. Even worse, I threw up right next to a trash can. Yes, it was not fun and pretty embarrassing as all the hotel employees assumed it was a child, but no… just Collin.

And on another note, traveling with nine kiddos. Well, it definitely made things very interesting. Yes, we dealt with rambunctious and wild kiddos. We dealt with tears and fits… kicking and screaming. But I don’t regret, for even a second, the decision to bring them.  They saw and they learned so much in each stop we made. They cried and laughed… and loved! They all know, even more so now, that life should never be taken for granted.

Ok, so here’ the 3rd video… and stay tuned for the 4th video soon (and possibly a 5th bloopers video! )!

** If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Written, Directed, Edited and Filmed by Isaac Deitz (http://www.tubopopcorn.com/)

* Did you see the first two Hip2Help Tour videos? check them out here and here!

*If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Written, Directed, Edited and Filmed by Isaac Deitz (http://www.tubopopcorn.com/)

If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

Don’t you think the pictures above say it all?! We are up to our neck in moving boxes thanks to the generosity of all of you. We will officially embark on the Hip2Help Tour first thing tomorrow morning as we begin our journey from Jacksonville, NC to Atlanta, GA. We will then meet up with the rest of the Hip2Save Team (my mom, sister, niece, nephews…) and will then make our first stop in Griffin, GA on July 3rd! We can’t wait!

Wowza! I cannot believe that I will be heading out on the Hip2Help Tour from North Carolina in less than a week?! Thanks to all of you awesome readers and sponsors, I have a garage FULL of donated items (I have received so many packages that my house is starting to fill up as well!). I literally get goose bumps and teary eyes when I really take the time to look around at the boxes that surround me and realize how many of you took the time and money to put together these wonderful packages. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This tour would not be possible without all of you!

With that being said, I received so many Hip2Help T-Shirt orders today that I am almost completely sold out of the shirts. Again, a BIG thank you for all your support! So, I will be taking down the shirt order form shortly.

As you know, we are sponsoring 11 families throughout the tour. I wanted to do one final post about their top needs as of today. If you are able to send any of the items below, it would be much appreciated!

Griffin, GA (Click here for the donation mailing address for the families below)

The Duffey Family:

* Size 3 shoes (Boy)
* Size 12 shoes (Girl)
* Toys

The Wright Family:

* Christmas Tree
* Toys for the children (art things like paint, pencils, paper)
* Pink comforter for girls Twin bed

Elmore County, AL (Click here for the donation mailing address for the families below)

The Hall Family:

* Sheet Sets (queen for a female, twin and full for a male, and a king for parents)
* Bathroom linens
* Living Room furniture

The Stewart Family:

* Sheet Sets (twin and full size bedding for 3 girls)
* Personal Toiletries

The Meadows Family:

* Gift cards (Lowes, Home Depot, WalMart, Kohls, WinnDixie)
* Twin and Full size bedding
* Toys for a 10 year old boy who loves reading Warlock books

Memphis, TN (Click here for the donation mailing address for the families below)

The Carruth Family:

* Baby items (size 2T clothes and size 4 diapers)
* Home improvement store gift cards and a handyman to help fix issues with the used trailer that they just moved into.

The Jackson Family:

* Furniture or gift cards/certificates to stores that sell furniture or other household items (ex: Target)

The Houston Family:

* Home Improvement store gift cards (Lowes or Home Depot)

The Hunt Family:

* Gas gift cards

Calhoun County, AL (Click here for the donation mailing address for the families below)

The Thornton Family:

* Shop Vac for Dad
* New Queen bed for Mom & Dad (they have a Queen mattress) – bedroom colors are red
* Things for the Kitchen for cooking (colors in new kitchen will be orange)
* Clothes for 15 year old daughter (Size 2 long; Small-Medium shirt); her bedroom will be black, turquoise, and white
* End tables for living room (living colors are light green)
* Computer Desk for Mom (her room colors will be yellow and black)
* Gift cards to Lowes

The Keener Family:

* Dresser or chest of drawers
* Towels and wash cloths (neutral colors)
* Twin size, full, and queen bedding
* Water guns
* Shoes size 12 for boy
* Toy box and Art set
* Gift cards for home improvement stores (i.e. Lowes) for replacing baseboards and fixing up the floors.

And don’t forget about our awesome sponsors… check them out by clicking here.

* If you are local (or willing to make the drive!) to Griffin, GA, Elmore County, AL, Memphis, TN, or Calhoun County, AL, then we want to meet you! Please come out and join us at one of our community events in these areas. Click here to find out what will be taking place in or around your community.

As most of you know, we will be embarking on the Hip2Help Tour in early July and are planning to sponsor between 1-3 families in 4 different communities along the way. Thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteer Kim Campos from Memphis, Tennessee, we are honored to introduce three more of our sponsored families in Tennessee, the Carruth, Jackson, and Houston families. Here are their stories:

The Carruth Family
The Carruth family lost their home of 9 years and nearly everything inside it this past April/May when flood waters crested above windows of their mobile home in Frayser, Tennessee. Nearly everything was lost due to the flood and resulting toxic black mold was left behind. Ms. Carruth’s son, her son’s girlfriend and her grandson (18 months), who all stayed with her, also lost personal belongings, clothing, and baby items. When asked what she and her family are most in need of, Ms. Carruth replied:

*Diapers (size 4), wipes and baby care supplies
*Boy summer clothes (Size 2t)
*Dining room table and chairs
*Living room furniture
*Mattresses: 1 twin, 1 full

The Jackson Family
Ms. Jackson is a 69 year old recently widowed woman who lost her mobile home to the recent flooding in Tunica, Mississippi. She was able to save her clothes, mattresses, washer, and refrigerator, but lost everything else and her mobile home is a complete loss. When asked what she needs the most, she replied: 

*Furniture (dresser, lamps, etc, she lost everything)
*Bed frames (2 full sized)
*Clothes Dryer
*Food
*Microwave 

The Houston Family
In the spring of 2010, Mrs. Houston’s den which sits lower than the rest of the home, was flooded with several inches of water due to an overflowing Mississippi River. She was not so lucky this year as the river left her entire home under several feet of water. She is able to still live in her home but is currently working on replacing sheet rock, floors, and more. At 81 years old, Mrs. Houston is lively yet, understandably, having a difficult time coping with the fact that “everything is ruined.” Here is what she needs:* Furniture (especially a couch and chairs)
* Personal care items
* Food
* Household items 

Please mail donations for these 3 families to the following address:
Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.
Kimberly Campos
Attn: Hip2Help Tour/______ Family (please specify the family)
5412 Peyton Randolph St.
Bartlett TN 38134
* Please contact Kim at 901-355-4243 if you have any specific questions about donating to these families.If you’re new around here, you may be asking yourself “What is the Hip2Help Tour?!” Click here for more information.

Before I highlight all of the awesome companies below that have helped contribute to the Hip2Help Tour, I wanted to mention that I will personally be heading over to the Petco in Wilmington, NC tomorrow, June 18th, from 2PM-4PM. Tina, one of the department managers for Petco, has offered to host a pet drive and all of the items that are donated at this drive will then be given to pets in need in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee via the Hip2Help Tour. If you are local to Wilmington and have a stash of pet coupons that need to be used , then come on out and join me (if you want to donate but are in need of some great pet coupons, be sure to ask for Tina when you arrive as she just may have some high-value coupons for you to use!). Maybe we can do some shopping together?!

Petco Pet Drive
Where: Petco, 324 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, (910) 799-2472 ‎
When: Saturday, June 18th, from 11AM-4PM (I will be there from 2PM-4PM)
What: All donations collected during this drive will be donated via the Hip2Help Tour to help animals in need.

As I said last week, the outpouring of support for the Hip2Help Tour has been amazing and humbling. I wish that it was possible for me to personally thank all of you that have sent free product coupons, toys, clothing, food, personal care items and more. Your generosity and willingness to give back is inspiring! In addition to all of you wonderful Hip2Savers, there have been many companies who have reached out and offered to help. Please see the growing list of our awesome sponsors below:

(To see all of the sponsors, click the link below “Read More/Post Your Comments”)

Avon
Annette, an independent Avon representative, is offering up 100% of commission earned through sales via this link.

Barefoot Books
Karen, an independent ambassador with Barefoot Books, is offering up 100% of commission earned through sales via this link. If you are in need of children’s books that feed the imagination, while instilling a respect for diversity and a love of the planet, then you’ll definitely want to check out Karen’s site here.

Bob Evans Farm
Bob Evans has sent 63 FREE product coupons (over $250 worth!!)

Celebrating Home
Crystal, an independent Celebrating Home consultant, is offering up 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you want to spruce up your home, patio or garden, then be sure to check out Crystal’s site found here.

Close to My Heart
Caroline, an independent Close to My Heart consultant, is offering up 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are looking for scrapbooking or stamping supplies, check out the products here and then email Caroline a list of the items you would like to order with the words “HIP2HELP” in the subject line. She will then help you to process your order.

Dove Chocolate Discoveries
Sarah, an independent Chocolatier, has offered up 100% of her commission on orders placed by June 30th to the Help2Hip tour. If you are in need of some tasty chocolate treats (who isn’t, right?!), then check out Sarah’s site here and then send her an email with your order and write “Hip2Help Order” in the subject line.

Eco-Home Store
The owners of Eco-Home Store have graciously allowed us to use our recent Save More vouchers to purchase $2,000 worth of merchandise for each sponsored family on the tour, plus items for our community events (a whopping 7,000 pounds of items!)… they have even been able to reduce our shipping costs for this HUGE order. If you would like to help support the Hip2Help tour, you can save 30% on all items at Eco-Homestore.com AND snag free shipping with the coupon code HIP2HELP at checkout (please note that this code will expire on June 26th and will only work for items that are shipped to the Hip2Help mailing address: PO Box 8716, Camp Lejeune NC 28547).

Eversave
Eversave has donated $250 worth of American Express Gift Cards to be given to the sponsored families!

Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom has sent 250 packages of socks (a whopping 5 LARGE boxes!)

Hopscout
Hopscout donated a special bundle of fun including Wobble Deck, 2 Twin Sister Puzzles and 2 Sing Along Books, Tepper Jackson Bib & Burp Set: $40, Tepper Jackson Hoodie Towel, Crayola Set, and a Marshmallow Shooter (total value $262!!).

Jewel Kade
Stacia, an independent Jewel Kade consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commissions to the Hip2Help Tour. If you would like to snatch up some handcrafted jewelry that’s both fun and timeless, then you’ll want to check out Stacia’s site found here. Simply place your order here and then email Stacia letting her know that you are a Hip2Save reader and would like her commission to go towards the Hip2Help tour.

Lia Sophia
Erin Kilts, an independent Lia Sophia advisor, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2HelpTour. Just head over here and enter Hip2Help as your hostess to begin shopping. Keep in mind that for every 2 items you buy at regular price, you can choose 1 at half price – and it will be your HIGHEST PRICED piece. Go here for more information.

LeeLu Creations
LeeLu Creations will donate 100% of profits to the Hip2Help tour for all sales made by June 24th. If you are looking for one-of-a-kind bobbies, bracelets, brooches, earrings, necklaces and more, then be sure to visit LeeLu Creations!

Mary Kay
Sarah, a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commissions on purchases made through this link to the Hip2Help Tour.

Melissa & Doug
Melissa & Doug sent us a box full of over $250 worth of sand toys!

Pampered Chef
Erin, an independent Pampered Chef consultant, is offering up 100% of her commission generated from purchases made through this link to the Hip2Help Tour. And keep in mind that you’ll snag a FREE sauce of your choice with any order totaling $60 or more.

Philosophy
Philosophy donated a gift basket worth over $230!

Procter and Gamble
Procter and Gamble donated 5 bundles consisting of a Venus Pro Skin razor, an Olay Total Effects Body Wash, Pantene Spray Gel, and Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash.

SaveMore.com
The team over at SaveMore.com recently allowed us to use a huge chunk of our credits to purchase vouchers to the Eco-HomeStore.com. They have also graciously offered to pay the shipping costs for our Eco-HomeStore.com purchase (up $1,000!).

Scentsy
Jillian, an independent Scentsy consultant, has graciously offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are in need of awesome Scentsy warmers, bars, room sprays and more, then you’ll want to check out Jillian’s Scentsy site here (please keep in mind that you’ll want to click on the party titled Hip2Help to make your purchase).

Stampin’ Up!
Meghan, an independent Stampin’ Up! consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are in need of some scrapbooking or stamping supplies, then you’ll want to check out Meghan’s Stampin’ Up! site here.

Stella & Dot
Sandy, an independent Stella & Dot Star Stylist, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are in need of some beautiful jewelry, then you’ll want to check out Sandy’s site here, click on the “Find Your Hostess” link (located in the upper right corner), type in Hip2Help Tour as the hostess, and then shop away!

Tastefully Simply
Tammy, an independent Tastefully Simply consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you want to snatch up some delicious foods and easy meals, then check out Tammy’s Tastefully Simple site here.

Thirty-One Gifts
Tracy, an independent Thirty-One Gifts consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some adorable monogrammed items, be sure to check out Tracy’s Thirty-One Gifts site here (click on the “My Events” link and then click on “Hip2Help”).

Too Cute Murals by Trudy
If you are looking for hand-painted wallpaper murals, be sure to check out Too Cute Murals by Trudy. Through June 30th, Trudy has offered to donate 50% of all of her mural sales to the Hip2Help Tour.

Uppercase Living
Kara, an independent Uppercase Living consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some oh so cute vinyl decals, be sure to check out Kara’s Uppercase Living site here. Even better, Uppercase Living is currently hosting a Buy 2 Get 1 Free promo…you may want to snatch up 2 decals for yourself and then donate one to a Hip2Help sponsored family.

Usborne Books & More
Mandy, an independent Usborne Books consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some high quality award-winning children’s books, be sure to check out Mandy’s Usborne Books site here. Don’t forget to browse the “Internet-Only Specials” section where you can find books marked 40%-70% off .

* If you own/work for a company that may be interested in sponsoring this tour (with free product coupons, donation items, etc.), click here to view the Sponsorship Flyer. If you have further questions, send an email to Bryn.

As I mentioned yesterday, we are leaving in early July for the Hip2Help Tour and are planning to sponsor between 1-3 families in 4 different communities along the way. Thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteer Sarah in Elmore County, Alabama, we are honored to introduce another one of our sponsored families, the Stewart Family. The Stewart family consists dad, mom, and 4 girls under the age of 9 (pictured above)!

The Stewart Family lost everything twice this year, once in a house fire, and then again in the April 27th tornado. The family is currently unable to get to their house because of fallen trees/debris and the road is washed out and in need of gravel. As a result, they are currently living on the front part of the property in their camper (which is rather small for a family of 6).

The Stewart Family is in need of the following items:

For the Girls:
Pant sizes 8, 6x, 6/7, 5T
Shirts: Small and Medium
Shoes: 3, 11, 12, 12 1/12.
Bookbags and school supplies (needed for 2 girls)

* Mom and Dad have asked that the focus of this sponsorship be on the kids; however, the family is also in need of end tables, lamps and sofas and kitchen items, full-size bedding, and bathroom and personal toiletry items.

Please mail donations for the Stewart Family to the following address:
Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.

Hip2Help Tour/The Stewart Family
c/o Sarah Blair
1050A Chapel Lakes Loop
Wetumpka, AL 36092
* Call Sarah at 910-658-3717 if you have any specific questions

If you’re new around here, you may be asking yourself “What is the Hip2Help Tour?!” Click here for more information. And don’t forget to snatch up a Hip2Help Tour Shirt while they are still available!

Head over here to check out the available youth, women’s and men’s sizes and to purchase your Hip2Help Shirt(s) now (or order as a gift for a friend!)

* Shirts available for a limited time, so get yours now!

I can’t believe that in less than 3 weeks we will be embarking on the Hip2Help Tour. I am daily humbled by all of the generous donations that keep pouring in from the Hip2Save readers and sponsors who are more than willing to give…THANK YOU!  As I’ve mentioned before, we are leaving in early July and are planning to sponsor between 1-3 families in 4 different communities along the way.

Meet the Wright Family…

Thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteer Carrie in Griffin, Georgia, we are honored to introduce another one of our sponsored families, the Wright Family. The Wright family consists of dad, mom, girl (age 8 ) and boy (age 4). As you can see from the pictures above, the Wright family lost their entire rental home and are currently living in a motel. When asked to jot down a list of the items that they were missing, the Wright kids came up with the list below:

In addition to the items mentioned in the list above, the Wright family is in need of toiletries, a King size bed, sheets and bedspreads for king, twin and a toddler bed, kitchen appliances (refrigerator, stove, dishwasher), plates, cups, silverware, gift cards to restaurants, dog, cat, and horse food. In addition, they are in need of clothing and shoes:

Mom: Large shirt, 10-12 pants, Size 8.5-9 shoes
Dad: 2XL shirt, 38 x 32 pants, Size 10.5 shoes
Girl (age 8): 10-12 shirt, Size 8 pants, Size 3.5 shoes
Boy (age 4): 5-6 shirt, Size 5-6 pants, Shoes 1

Please mail donations for the Wright Family to the following address (if you are local to Griffin, GA you can call Brandy at 770-412-0429 to arrange local delivery of your donations):
Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.

Diversified Fabricators, Inc.
Attn: Hip2Help Tour/Wright Family
1325 U.S. 41 Bypass South
Griffin, GA 30224

Meet the Keener Family…

Also, thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteer Tina in Calhoun County, Alabama, we are honored to introduce another one of our sponsored families in Alabama, the Keener Family. The Keener family consists of dad, mom, girl (almost 8), boy (age 5), and boy (age 4). As you can see from the pictures above, the Keener family lost their entire home and husband’s truck and their lawnmower and bikes for the kids were stolen. Until recently, they were living in a tent on their property to avoid further looting but have now moved into a relative’s older home with bare necessities only.

If you want to help us support this family through donations, here is what is needed:

* Dresser
* Chest of Drawers
* Gift cards to Lowes or Home Depot to purchase house paint/supplies, siding, fixtures, etc.
* New fixtures for shower and tub (and possible plumber to figure out why water won’t run)
* Barbie dolls (including jet, house, clothing, accessories) for daughter – insulation in house was so bad that they had to throw away all toys. She’ll be turning 8 at the end of June, so this would be a great birthday present!
* Spiderman, Ironman, and Mario toys for the boys
* Flowers and Potted Plants for outside of house
* Dog treats/supplies
* House decor (Mom likes sunflowers, etc)
*…and more. We’ll update the Calhoun County page with more needs as they come in.

Please mail donations for the Keener Family to the following address:

Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.

Saks Baptist Church
c/o Tina Horn Hip2Help
2945 US Hwy 431
Anniston, AL 36206

OR

Tina Horn
Attn: Hip2Help Tour/Thornton Family
55 Brooks Drive
Alexandria, AL 36250

* Please contact Tina at 256-620-7330 or 256-239-5206 if you have any specific questions about donating to the Keener Family.

If you’re new around here, you may be asking yourself “What is the Hip2Help Tour?!” Click here for more information.

As I said last week, the outpouring of support for the Hip2Help Tour has been amazing and humbling. I wish that it was possible for me to personally thank all of you that have sent free product coupons, toys, clothing, food, personal care items and more. Your generosity and willingness to give back is inspiring! In addition to all of you wonderful Hip2Savers, there have been many companies who have reached out and offered to help. Please see the growing list of our awesome sponsors below:

Barefoot Books
Karen, an independent ambassador with Barefoot Books, is offering up 100% of commission earned through sales via this link. If you are in need of children’s books that feed the imagination, while instilling a respect for diversity and a love of the planet, then you’ll definitely want to check out Karen’s site here.

Bob Evans Farm
Bob Evans has sent 63 FREE product coupons (over $250 worth!!)

Celebrating Home
Crystal, an independent Celebrating Home consultant, is offering up 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you want to spruce up your home, patio or garden, then be sure to check out Crystal’s site found here.

Close to My Heart
Caroline, an independent Close to My Heart consultant, is offering up 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are looking for scrapbooking or stamping supplies, check out the products here and then email Caroline a list of the items you would like to order with the words “HIP2HELP” in the subject line. She will then help you to process your order.

Dove Chocolate Discoveries
Sarah, an independent Chocolatier, has offered up 100% of her commission on orders placed by June 30th to the Help2Hip tour. If you are in need of some tasty chocolate treats (who isn’t, right?!), then check out Sarah’s site here and then send her an email with your order and write “Hip2Help Order” in the subject line.

Eco-Home Store
The owners of Eco-Home Store have graciously allowed us to use our recent Save More vouchers to purchase $2,000 worth of merchandise for each sponsored family on the tour, plus items for our community events (a whopping 7,000 pounds of items!)… they have even been able to reduce our shipping costs for this HUGE order. If you would like to help support the Hip2Help tour, you can save 30% on all items at Eco-Homestore.com AND snag free shipping with the coupon code HIP2HELP at checkout (please note that this code will expire on June 26th and will only work for items that are shipped to the Hip2Help mailing address: PO Box 8716, Camp Lejeune NC 28547).

Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom has sent 250 packages of socks (a whopping 5 LARGE boxes!)

Hopscout
Hopscout donated a special bundle of fun including Wobble Deck, 2 Twin Sister Puzzles and 2 Sing Along Books, Tepper Jackson Bib & Burp Set: $40, Tepper Jackson Hoodie Towel, Crayola Set, and a Marshmallow Shooter (total value $262!!).

Jewel Kade
Stacia, an independent Jewel Kade consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commissions to the Hip2Help Tour. If you would like to snatch up some handcrafted jewelry that’s both fun and timeless, then you’ll want to check out Stacia’s site found here. Simply place your order here and then email Stacia letting her know that you are a Hip2Save reader and would like her commission to go towards the Hip2Help tour.

Lia Sophia
Erin Kilts, an independent Lia Sophia advisor, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2HelpTour. Just head over here and enter Hip2Help as your hostess to begin shopping. Keep in mind that for every 2 items you buy at regular price, you can choose 1 at half price – and it will be your HIGHEST PRICED piece. Go here for more information.

LeeLu Creations
LeeLu Creations will donate 100% of profits to the Hip2Help tour for all sales made by June 24th. If you are looking for one-of-a-kind bobbies, bracelets, brooches, earrings, necklaces and more, then be sure to visit LeeLu Creations!

Philosophy
Philosophy donated a gift basket worth over $230!

Procter and Gamble
Procter and Gamble donated 5 bundles consisting of a Venus Pro Skin razor, an Olay Total Effects Body Wash, Pantene Spray Gel, and Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash.

SaveMore.com
The team over at SaveMore.com recently allowed us to use a huge chunk of our credits to purchase vouchers to the Eco-HomeStore.com. They have also graciously offered to pay the shipping costs for our Eco-HomeStore.com purchase (up $1,000!).

Scentsy
Jillian, an independent Scentsy consultant, has graciously offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are in need of awesome Scentsy warmers, bars, room sprays and more, then you’ll want to check out Jillian’s Scentsy site here (please keep in mind that you’ll want to click on the party titled Hip2Help to make your purchase).

Stampin’ Up!
Meghan, an independent Stampin’ Up! consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are in need of some scrapbooking or stamping supplies, then you’ll want to check out Meghan’s Stampin’ Up! site here.

Tastefully Simply
Tammy, an independent Tastefully Simply consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you want to snatch up some delicious foods and easy meals, then check out Tammy’s Tastefully Simple site here.

Thirty-One Gifts
Tracy, an independent Thirty-One Gifts consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some adorable monogrammed items, be sure to check out Tracy’s Thirty-One Gifts site here (click on the “My Events” link and then click on “Hip2Help”).

Uppercase Living
Kara, an independent Uppercase Living consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some oh so cute vinyl decals, be sure to check out Kara’s Uppercase Living site here. Even better, Uppercase Living is currently hosting a Buy 2 Get 1 Free promo…you may want to snatch up 2 decals for yourself and then donate one to a Hip2Help sponsored family.

Usborne Books & More
Mandy, an independent Usborne Books consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some high quality award-winning children’s books, be sure to check out Mandy’s Usborne Books site here. Don’t forget to browse the “Internet-Only Specials” section where you can find books marked 40%-70% off .

* If you own/work for a company that may be interested in sponsoring this tour (with free product coupons, donation items, etc.), click here to view the Sponsorship Flyer. If you have further questions, send an email to Bryn.

As most of you know, we will be embarking on the Hip2Help Tour in early July and are planning to sponsor between 1-3 families in 4 different communities along the way. Thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteer Sarah in Elmore County, Alabama, we are honored to introduce another one of our sponsored families in Alabama, the Meadows Family. The Meadows family consists of dad, mom, and boy (age 10). As you can see from the pictures above, the Meadows family lost virtually their entire home and are currently living on their property out of two campers (they are using what is left of their house for the bathroom and closet). Here is a little about their story:

When the tornado hit on April 27th, the family was in the bathroom in their house. The tornado picked up the house and moved it 2-4 inches…when the house hit the ground again, it broke the cinderblocks underneath! Luckily the family was on the opposite side of the house where a tree landed. The mother credits the tree for saving them, “without the tree falling on the house, we would have gotten thrown around.” The family did not have insurance and is awaiting to hear back on loans to rebuild. They have been told they cannot move another mobile home onto the property, so they will now have to build.

Their ten year old son loves to read books about WarLocks and Dragons. He also loves remote control cars. The family is not in need of clothing as they have already received plenty of clothing through donations. Instead, they are in need of living room furniture (the couch that was in the living room has shards of glass all over it). The dining room table was also destroyed in the tornado, so they are in need of a table and chairs. The linen closet that held all their bedding was damaged in the tornado so they are in need of twin and full size bedding. Bathroom towels and bathroom supplies would be great as well!

Please mail donations for the Meadows Family to the following address (if you are local to Elmore County, you can call Sarah to arrange local delivery of your donations):
Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.

Hip2Help Tour/The Meadows Family
c/o Sarah Blair
1050A Chapel Lakes Loop
Wetumpka, AL 36092
* Call Sarah at 910-658-3717 if you have any specific questions

If you’re new around here, you may be asking yourself “What is the Hip2Help Tour?!” Click here for more information.

As most of you know, we will be embarking on the Hip2Help Tour in early July and are planning to sponsor between 1-3 families in 4 different communities along the way. Thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteer Sarah in Elmore County, Alabama, we are honored to introduce one of our sponsored families in Alabama, the Hall Family. The Hall family consists of dad, mom, boy (age 10) and girl (age 13). As you can see from the pictures above, the Hall family lost their entire home and is currently living with family members in the area until a rental house becomes available. Here is a little about their story:

On April 27th, the family was sitting down eating dinner and watching the news. Dad walked outside and heard tornado sirens going off “I walked back in and saw the storm cell on the news,” Dad told me. “We decided to go to my parents house who is not far from where we lived.” It’s a good thing that they did because when they came back to their house all that was left was 11 years of debris.

If you want to help us support this family through donations, here is what is needed:

* Kitchen supplies
* Beds (already donated!) and bedding (twin, full/queen and king-size bedding is needed)
* Bathroom linens
* Dining room table
* Living room furniture

Please mail donations for the Hall Family to the following address:
Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.

Hip2Help Tour/The Hall Family
c/o Sarah Blair
1050A Chapel Lakes Loop
Wetumpka, AL 36092
* Call Sarah at 910-658-3717 if you have any specific questions

If you’re new around here, you may be asking yourself “What is the Hip2Help Tour?!” Click here for more information.

Wow!! The outpouring of support for the Hip2Help Tour has been amazing and humbling. I wish that it was possible for me to personally thank all of you that have sent free product coupons, toys, clothing, food, personal care items and more…your generosity and willingness to give back is inspiring! In addition to all of you wonderful Hip2Savers, there have been many companies who have reached out and offered to help. Please see the growing list of our awesome sponsors below:

Bob Evans Farm
Bob Evans has sent 63 FREE product coupons (over $250 worth!!)

Celebrating Home
Crystal, an independent Celebrating Home consultant, is offering up 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you want to spruce up your home, patio or garden, then be sure to check out Crystal’s site found here.

Close to My Heart
Caroline, an independent Close to My Heart consultant, is offering up 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are looking for scrapbooking or stamping supplies, check out the products here and then email Caroline a list of the items you would like to order with the words “HIP2HELP” in the subject line. She will then help you to process your order.

Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom has sent 250 packages of socks (a whopping 5 LARGE boxes!)

Jewel Kade
Stacia, an independent Jewel Kade consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commissions to the Hip2Help Tour. If you would like to snatch up some handcrafted jewelry that’s both fun and timeless, then you’ll want to check out Stacia’s site found here. Simply place your order here and then email Stacia letting her know that you are a Hip2Save reader and would like her commission to go towards the Hip2Help tour.

Philosophy
Philosophy donated a gift basket worth over $230!

Procter and Gamble
Procter and Gamble donated 5 bundles consisting of a Venus Pro Skin razor, an Olay Total Effects Body Wash, Pantene Spray Gel, and Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash.

Scentsy
Jillian, an independent Scentsy consultant, has graciously offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are in need of awesome Scentsy warmers, bars, room sprays and more, then you’ll want to check out Jillian’s Scentsy site here (please keep in mind that you’ll want to click on the party titled Hip2Help to make your purchase).

Stampin’ Up!
Meghan, an independent Stampin’ Up! consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are in need of some scrapbooking or stamping supplies, then you’ll want to check out Meghan’s Stampin’ Up! site here.

Tastefully Simply
Tammy, an independent Tastefully Simply consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you want to snatch up some delicious foods and easy meals, then check out Tammy’s Tastefully Simple site here.

Thirty-One Gifts
Tracy, an independent Thirty-One Gifts consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some adorable monogrammed items, be sure to check out Tracy’s Thirty-One Gifts site here (click on the “My Events” link and then click on “Hip2Help”).

Uppercase Living
Kara, an independent Uppercase Living consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some oh so cute vinyl decals, be sure to check out Kara’s Uppercase Living site here. Even better, Uppercase Living is currently hosting a Buy 2 Get 1 Free promo…you may want to snatch up 2 decals for yourself and then donate one to a Hip2Help sponsored family.

Usborne Books & More
Mandy, an independent Usborne Books consultant, has offered to donate 100% of her commission to the Hip2Help Tour. If you are need of some high quality award-winning children’s books, be sure to check out Mandy’s Usborne Books site here. Don’t forget to browse the “Internet-Only Specials” section where you can find books marked 40%-70% off .

* If you own/work for a company that may be interested in sponsoring this tour (with free product coupons, donation items, etc.), click here to view the Sponsorship Flyer. If you have further questions, send an email to Bryn.

(The Thornton Family Home in Calhoun County, AL)

As we mentioned yesterday, we will be embarking on the Hip2Help Tour in early July and are planning to sponsor between 1-3 families in 4 different communities along the way. Thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader/volunteer Tina in Calhoun County, Alabama, we are honored to introduce another one of our sponsored families, the Thornton Family. The Thornton Family consists of dad, mom, boy (age 11) and girl (age 15 who will also be having surgery on June 8th). As you can see from the picture above, the Thornton’s home was partially destroyed, including the living and kitchen areas.

If you want to help us support this family through donations, here is what is needed:

*Boy Needs (Age 11): Clothing (Size 32 pants/shorts, Men’s size medium shirt, & size 9 1/2 shoe…he LOVES sneakers!)

*Girl Needs (Age 15): Clothing (Size 2 shorts/pants, Small size for tops, & Size 7 shoe)

* In addition to clothing and shoes, the family could use gift cards to Lowes and Walmart to help with expenses for repairing their home.

Please mail donations for the Thornton Family to either of the following addresses:

Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in either of these locations until we arrive in July.

Saks Baptist Church
c/o Tina Horn Hip2Help
2945 US Hwy 431
Anniston, AL 36206

OR

Tina Horn
Attn: Hip2Help Tour/Thornton Family
55 Brooks Drive
Alexandria, AL 36250

* Please contact Tina at 256-620-7330 or 256-239-5206 if you have any specific questions about donating to the Thornton Family.

As most of you know, we will be embarking on the Hip2Help Tour in early July and are planning to sponsor between 1-3 families in 4 different communities along the way. Thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteers Brandy and Carrie in Griffin, Georgia, we are honored to introduce one of our sponsored families, the Duffey Family. The Duffey family consists of dad, mom, boy (age 9) and girl (age 6). As you can see from the picture above, the Duffey family lost their entire home and are currently living with family members in the area. Although everything was lost, the Duffey parents are asking that our sponsorship efforts focus solely on the kids.

If you want to help us support this family through donations, here is what is needed:

Boy Needs (Age 9): Size 8 Shorts, Size 10 Pants, 8/10 Shirts; Size 3 shoes

Girl Needs (Age 6): Size 6 Pants, Dresses, and Shirts; Size 12 shoes

* In addition to clothing and shoes, the kids lost all of their toys and outdoor playthings (bikes, etc.).

Please mail donations for the Duffey Family to the following address:
Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.

Diversified Fabricators, Inc.
Attn: Hip2Help Tour/Duffey Family
1325 U.S. 41 Bypass South
Griffin, GA 30224
* Please contact Brandy at 770-412-0429 if you have any specific questions about donating to the Duffey Family

If you’re new around here, you may be asking yourself “What is the Hip2Help Tour?!” Click here for more information.

I am also so grateful for the Hip2Save readers in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia who have volunteered to be Hip2Save Reader Leaders and have begun planning community events, finding families to sponsor etc. If you are interested in helping or donating your stockpiled items/freebies/coupons, please check out the Hip2Help Tour page here for contact information. You can also easily access the Hip2Help page by clicking on the Hip2Help button in the right sidebar of Hip2Save (just look for the blonde girl in the bus ).

We will be traveling (July 3rd-9th) to…

* Griffin, GA
* Elmore County, AL
* Memphis, TN
* Calhoun County, AL

* On a side note, my heart is breaking for those of you who live in Joplin, MO or have family in this area. If you want to help out the residents in Joplin, you can head over here to make a donation through the American Red Cross. Or you may want to check out Couponing to Disney’s post to see where you can donate your stockpiled items.

** If you are considering sending off a package, you may want to take advantage of the $3 off any UPS Shipping Package coupon found in the Staples ad (valid through May 28th at any Staples US Ship Center).

Because we are still in the early planning stages, I thought that it would be more appropriate to share this project with you in a post instead of the typical “Coffee with Collin” video. As you may recall, I posted a survey about 10 days ago to be completed by those of you who live in a community that was recently affected by the tornadoes and floods. I was so moved by all the responses that I received regarding the amount of devastation that your communities were experiencing, which inspired me in a huge way to want to personally help make a difference. With this desire to give back, the Hip2Help Tour was born.

The Hip2Help Tour will involve the Hip2Save team (including 9 kiddos, ages 3-10!) traveling by bus from North Carolina through Georgia and Alabama within an 8 day period from July 3rd-10th. Our goal is to personally provide community service, host donation drives, host community events with music and entertainment + much more! We are also going to be capturing this special trip on video so that all of you readers can be part of the experience.

How Can YOU Help?

* Send FREE (and unexpired) product coupons as well as gift cards to the following address (please remember that we will not be traveling until July 2011, so please only send coupons that will be valid at that time):

Hip2Help Tour
PO Box 8716
Camp Lejeune NC 28547

* Consider mailing personal care/household/toys from your stockpile to the following address (the most needed items are sunscreen, bug spray, diapers, wipes, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, baby wash, first aid supplies, tampons, baby formula, shaving cream, nonperishable food items that do not need to be cooked, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, trash bags, pet food, can openers, batteries):

Hip2Help Tour
PO Box 8716
Camp Lejeune NC 28547

* If you do not want to spend a bunch on postage, consider packing up all of your samples and trial size items and unopened hotel hair care products etc. and mailing them to the address above.

* Stay tuned for a Hip2Help Tour t-shirt; all of the profits from this shirt will be donated to this tour

* If you own/work for a company that may be interested in sponsoring this tour (with free product coupons, donation items etc.), please send an email to Bryn, and she will email you with further information.

If you live in one of the communities mentioned above, I hope to have a chance to personally meet you in July. Stay tuned for additional posts and videos in the coming weeks with further information on the planned events…

I just want to let you all know that I was so inspired and very moved by the comments that you made on the “Helping the South” post. What an incredibly amazing community we have built here on Hip2Save. All of you have truly touched my life in so many ways. With that being said, I want to give back in a huge way!

The devastation in the mid-west and south is not getting any better as now not only have tornadoes destroyed areas, but flooding is creating havoc as well. People are without homes, without food… some even without family. Just take one minute to imagine being in their shoes or lack thereof, surrounded by a situation that leaves so many feeling hopeless.

I am ready, ready to make a huge impact on so many. I want to bring hope back to the lives of people in these devastated areas. …And I know we Hip2Savers can do just that. We can and we WILL make a difference.

**If you are living in an affected area that is in need of supplies and/or community service assistance, please fill out this survey here.

I will have an update on this big project we are putting together very soon, so stay tuned!

(Photo Credit: My Weather Tech)

As most of you know, the Southern part of the United States (primarily Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee) was recently hit by a series of massive tornadoes. In addition to killing over 350 people, many homes were completely destroyed (you may want to check out this You Tube Video that reader, Amanda, sent over). I have received quite a few emails from Hip2Save readers who were directly or indirectly affected by these tornadoes and are asking that we all ban together to provide assistance to those in need.

What can you do?

* Check out A Full Cup’s post:
“How Extreme Couponers Can Help Tornado Victims – Donate Your Stockpile Items!”

* Check out Couponing to Disney’s post:
“How to help tornado victims in Alabama via an online donation drive”

Now it’s you turn… what suggestions do you have?

And to all of you in the South that have been affected, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

If you are a woman fighting cancer and/or have a female loved one that is fighting cancer (and are currently under cancer treatment), then you’ll want to take note of an awesome nonprofit organization called Cleaning for a Reason. The Cleaning for A Reason Foundation offers FREE professional housecleaning and maid services to improve the lives of women undergoing treatment for cancer – any type of cancer. This foundation partners with professional residential maid services who are insured and bonded…these maid services have agreed to take 2 patients at a time and offer four free general cleanings – once a month for four months as a way to give back to their community.

If you want to apply for this service, here is what you need to do…

(1) Check to see if there is a participating maid service in your geographical area by clicking the locations tab here (click the state in which you reside on the pink U.S. map or if you reside in Canada, click the Canadian map).

(2) If you are a qualified cancer patient, fill out the online application here. Please note that the application process opens at Noon CST Monday through Friday and only a maximum of 50 applications are accepted each day. When you submit, the online process will inform you if a maid service covers your area. In large metropolitan areas, some maid services limit the distance they will travel to the area they normally serve.

(3) If your registration is successful and there is a partner in your area, some additional questions will be asked and you will be prompted to agree to a service waiver.

(4) The final step in the registration process will be to have your doctor fax verification that you are currently in cancer treatment. The fax number is listed on the final page of the application process. A record of your diagnosis or any specific medical information is NOT required; all that is needed is a note from your doctor’s office stating your name and that you are under cancer treatment will suffice.

(5) Cleaning For A Reason will contact the maid service in your area on your behalf. The maid service will then contact you directly to schedule your cleanings.

How can YOU help support this organization?

* Make a one-time donation
* Make a monthly contribution of $10-$50 monthly
* Sponsor a Maid-Service for $30 per month or $60 per month
* Shop the Cleaning for a Reason Online Store

Have you ever used this organization? Do you know of any other organization that offers a similar service for cancer patients?

(Thanks, Shirley!)

If you want to help out a public school teacher/classroom here in the United States without spending any money out of pocket, then you definitely want to check out this post! For a limited time, text “Possible” to 77177, reply with your zip code and you will snag a FREE $15 DonorsChoose.org gift code to support a classroom project of your choice!

Once you receive your unique gift code via text message, just head on over here, enter the code, and pick your classroom project. Please keep in mind that only one gift card code is allowed per person. Also note that to avoid receiving Waiting for Superman updates, you will need to text “STOP” once you receive your $15 gift code.

Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class. You can browse project requests and give any amount to the one that inspires you. Once a project reaches its funding goal, the materials are delivered to the school. You’ll get photos of your project taking place, a thank-you letter from the teacher, and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent. If you give over $100, you’ll also receive hand-written thank-you letters from the students.

(Thanks, Katie!)

As most of you know by now, a huge earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on Friday, March 11th, killing thousands of people. If you are interested in making a donation to help the people of Japan, please check out some of the tips below. Just think of the impact we can all make by coming together and donating!

How can you give back?
Well, first make sure you’re donating to a legit organization. Howard Friedman has written a great article found here with information about legitimate organizations you can donate to. He also encourages you to check out the Charity Navigator prior to donating any money…this navigator allows you to compare and rate charities. The Red Cross currently offers an option to donate a minimum of $10 by heading over here.

If you want a quick and easy way to help the Japan Relief Efforts, head over to the Voskos Greek Yogurt Facebook page and “like” them. Through March 22nd, Voskos Yogurt will donate $1 to a Japan earthquake relief fund for every Facebook “like” to this status. (Thanks, Family Friendly Frugality!)

* Through March 31st, AT&T wireless postpaid customers (i.e. those who receive a monthly bill from the company) will not be charged for international long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan and will not be charged for text messages to Japan originated from a U.S. wireless number. Through April 10th, most Verizon wireless and residential customers can make calls to Japan for free; Verizon postpaid customers in the U.S. will receive free text and multimedia messaging to Japan for the same time period. (Thanks, Ohio Coupon Connection, Linse, and Coupon Pro!)

Let us know what ways you’re helping to make a difference in the comment section. Let’s all try to inspire one another!

UPDATE: It seems that the daily limit of SmileCards has been reached for today; however, you can check back tomorrow to submit a request or you can download the cards.

If you have been a Hip2Save reader for any extended period of time, you probably know that I am a big fan of paying it forward and also love to highlight others who pay it forward (check out these posts here, here, here, here and here for some examples). With that being said, I was really excited to learn about HelpOthers.org, the creators of the SmileCard project.

Starting in September of 2003, smile cards began appearing all around the world. SmileCards are markers of a newfangled game of tag, where “you’re it” because someone has done something nice for you. Then it’s your turn to do something nice for someone else and, in the process, pass the card along. This is a game of pay-it-forward: anonymously make someone smile, leave behind a card asking them to keep the ripple going. It’s easy, free, fun, and makes you feel oh so good!

Do you want to snag some SmileCards so you can participate in this game of pay-it-forward? If so, head over here to download your very own SmileCards. If you prefer, you can request pre-printed SmileCards that will be sent to your home for FREE! Just head over here to complete the request form and you will receive 10 cards in the mail within 2-4 weeks. Hip2Save reader, Fran, recently requested the cards and shares a picture of the back of the card below (the image on the front of the card is pictured above at the top of this post).

If you are inspired by the mission of HelpOthers.org, consider paying it forward by donating here to sponsor the SmileCards. For every $1 donated, 20 more SmileCards are able to be shipped and printed (you can even donate stamps!)

Need some kindness ideas?! Head over here for lots of great ways to give back and pay it forward.

Have you ever received or handed out a SmileCard (or something similar)?! Do you have some of your own kindness ideas? Let us know in the comments below!

(Thanks, Fran!)

*If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.

* If you have toys that you would like to donate to Toys for Tots, head over here to find a drop-off location.