As the Devastation Continues, I Want to Help…
(Photo Credit: CNN)
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!
Way to put your influence to the betterment of the people, that’s awesome Collin. Please let us know how we can help in your effort! You go girl, God bless!
God bless you, Collin! 🙂
I totally agree. I want to help out too as I am from Alabama and grew up in some of the damaged areas. If we can help out let us know.
What a wonderful idea, Collin! You have blessed so many people with not only financial savings through this blog, but also with your kind and generous heart! Thank-you for all you do!
You are the best Collin!!!! Like JD mentioed, let us know how we can help!
I sent a ton of stuff with my daughter to school the other day. A guy that I believe is from here that is going to school in Alabama came to the school asking for supplies to help everyone with. I don’t have a huge stockpile but knew they were in need more than me.
You rock Collin… You will touch so many people’s lives by doing this.. Your a blessing to so many…
Said it before, but I’ll say it again. Collin,you are a One-of-a-kind GEM, with a heart of PURE GOLD!!. We (my husband and I) always contribute a sizable cash donation to the Red Cross,and I’m pretty new to couponing so don’t have any “stockpiles”, but if there’s ANY WAY that I can be of any assistance, I hope you’ll let me know. Simply LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU & THIS COMMUNITY!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!
Looking forward to helping!! Does anyone know, off hand, if The Red Cross accepts donations besides money?
I don’t believe so, but you can make a monetary contribution and label it to be specifically used in the south, or Japan, or wherever. I have gone thru some Red Cross training and learned that if you put on your check or on a letter with your money that you want your money specifically used for something they have to use it for that.
Toni, the Red Cross only accepts cash. Each time we donate we make it specific to that catastrophe…like when we sent a donation to Japan, and now the one in the South. I think they pretty much send it where it’s needed most ‘coz people usually contribute when there’s some sort of tragedy.
You truly are such a good, kind hearted person Collin! I can’t wait to be a part of your efforts in helping out. I think as individuals, at least for myself, it becomes difficult when wanting to help out others when such devastation occurs. I become unsure the best way to donate; are my items actually getting to the individuals who need it the most? Is the money really being donated to the cause? I THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for providing us an outlet to be able to help the people who are in need the most. You really have started an awesome community with Hip2Save, and I am proud to be a part of it!
I am sending a box of supplies out tomorrow to a church in Alabama……thanks collin
Where I live in Arkansas we didn’t end up with the devastation that other areas around here got, but I will do what I can to help. I almost lost my Husband and BIL to the flood, and It was the worst day of my life. My story has a happy ending and I want to help others that weren’t so blessed.
Well said Collin! Will be happy to help out.
I have been wanting to help out as well but it’s absurdly difficult for individuals to help out. Red Cross will only take corporate in-kind donations or monetary donations from individuals. Please let me know how we can help with items from our stockpile.
Hi Collin,
I have no money to help but I do have a box full of coupons that I do not use. I was going to send to the Military but maybe you could use them on your cause???
I would gladly send them anywhere.
I have a stockpile Im not going to use as well still in date. Let us know. Thanks Collin!
Thank you for doing this Collin. I live in southwest Missouri and the flooding here is awful. They are now thinking about closing down a main roadway that would make many people have to drive over an hour and a half out of their way just to get to work. I hope there is something we can do though to help others, I just don’t know where to start =[
Samantha – Where abouts do you live? We were just down to Branson & the flooding around there I’ve never seen before. All the flood gates were open on Table Rock Lake, which makes things worse for those on Taneycomo. I saw rain moving through again the last few days. Ugh! In my thoughts & prayers! Hopefully, we’ll have some ideas of where to help.
Great idea! I wish there was some connections so that if you wanted to go south and donate time to help those devestated by tornadoes could do so.. We want to go down in a few weeks for our vacation and help out but feel we need a connection to maybe a support group there… If I can get that then I can start getting donations and bring a pickup truck and trailer load of items most needed… prefer a smaller town area… anyone know of any connecitons?????
Check out http://www.caseygraham.org to possibly make a connection with a church in one of the effected areas.
Ringgold, GA was hit very hard. There are tons of homes & businesses completely wiped away by the tornadoes. Here is a list of the local churches, I am sure you can contact someone to help you figure out where you are needed most.
Catoosa County: Relief efforts continue being staged from three designated assistance centers: the Ringgold United Methodist Church, 7884 Nashville Street; Poplar Springs Baptist Church, 422 Poplar Springs Road; and Cherokee Valley Baptist Church, 1495 Cherokee Valley Road. Donations of cash may be sent to any of these churches at their street address in Ringgold, Ga. 30736
Check out the facebook page called We are T-town. Full of great info for those wanting to donate
Good for you, Collin! My church is joining with some other churches here in Texas to send supplies to Alabama through a Christian outreach group and today I was able to put together 3 large shoeboxes full of personal care items (I have gotten for free or really, really cheap!) through couponing – such as the free toothpaste from CVS this week, etc.) I’m so glad that even those of us who don’t have a lot of money can help in this way. Thanks for all you do to help us get the good deals!
awesome–ready to help!
Thanks for your site Collin. This morning I was able to drop four full bags of personal hygene, baby items, and paper products off at a local church that is filling a truck for Alabama victims. All things that I’ve gotten through the great deals you post..so thanks! Is there anything us Hip2Savers can do to help you help others? Send you coupons? Make donations? Anything?
Tina: whereabouts in Texas are you all collecting items? – I have a quite a few stockpile items to donate but can’t find anyone taking them –
I contacted Samaritans Purse and asked where they were working. They gave me info for a partner church. I called them and they said they had plenty of clothes but had not gotten many toiletries. So I sent off a box today to:
(205) 310-9836
Bethel Baptist Church
3003 25th St.
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Hope it helps…
ready to help…good job collin…luv ya
I live in North GA sort of on the GA/TN/AL state lines, therefore, I am close to many cities that were hit by the tornadoes. This morning was my first opprotunity to drive by a subdivision (Flintstone, GA) where many of my friends live, it is also where we go for Halloween. I wanted to cry my heart out for those that lost their homes; there are trees, powerlines, personal belongings, & debris all over our little town. We were fortunate that no lives were lost but our other neighbors in Ringgold didn’t fare so well. I know the most needed items at this point are tarps, batteries, & baby items, in addition to, cleaning supplies, new underwear, towels, blankets, non-perisablie food, & water. You see storms on the news but it really doesn’t hit home until it affects you & the ones you love. Thank you all for your generosity & willingness to give! May God bless us all!!
Here is a link from our local news that gives listings of where & what to donate in North GA.
https://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=14572016
WHAT A WONDERFUL IDEA! I CANT WAIT TO FIND OUT HOW TO HELP!
Collin–God is going to bless you in ways you can’t even begin to imagine. I just sent 8 boxes of clothes and 12 plus bags of staples (most of which were acquired by using your match-ups) to Alabama via a chuch here in Kentucky. I was so humbled that God would choose to use you and me in such a simple but impactful way. Thank you for all you do!!!
Thank you Collin and all the hip2savers! I live in North Alabama and was blessed to not have any storm damage around me. However its just a 30 minute drive east/west/ or south and those towns were devasted. Pictures do not do justice for all the damage that the tornados created. There are thousands of people homeless now and hundreds of business completely gone. Most of these people even worked at the business that are no longer there. The outpouring of support from everyone is truely amazing. It is gonna be a long road to recovery in all these towns. I heard on the news just this morning that there were 41 counties hit by tornados…unbelievable!! Please dont forget these people in the coming months either. They will still need food and supplies for many many months to come. I have personally wiped my stockpile clean but know that I at least have the opprotunity of replacing it. There are no words for the utter destruction of our beautiful state. Thank you all once again for helping my neighbors!
I am so glad to see this post 🙂 I live in Tennessee, and was right in the middle of it but it just passed us. I have family in Alabama where the tornadoes hit and also a friend, my family is okay, but have yet to hear from my friend. Thank you Collin for all that you do. Its good to know that other people who arent in the area care enough to lend a helping hand. God Bless you and all you other Hip2Savers
I live in southern IL and we are soo happy to see the sun now for the past 3 days:) I have been lucky with the first storm that came through I ended up with roof damage but that is easy to fix compared to others I know. My daughters best friend from college lost her home she used to live in Cairo, I have other friends that their homes are ok but their roads are still closed to water on the roads. if you want go to http://www.kfvs12,com this is a local news station and they have all the up to date information about the levees that the Army corps of engineers hadd to blow to save more homes. We are all hoping and praying that we dont get any more rain for a while. If you pray please pray for all the families that have lost thier homes or have severe flood damage and also for the farmers many have lost this years corps of wheat, corn, beans, soy
Again THANK YOU!!!
I passed your post on to some of the people in Eclectic. Thank you so much! I also wanted to say thanks for all you do already. If it weren’t for couponing, I wouldn’t have been able to give. I was able to go in my stockpile and make a good bag of toiletries and things to send.
I live in Oklahoma City now so I was not affected by any of this but I have only been here 3 years and I am from Poplar Bluff Missouri which is one of the towns that has been on national news for the flooding. My mom and sister live on a hill and thankfully did not loose anything but we have alot of friends that did! The kids were out of school for two weeks simply because people could not get out of their homes! They had to evacuate two different parts of town and people were staying at a shelter. This was a very hard hit area!
there are still schools closed due to the water I worry about when and if the kids are going to get to finish for the year
i think that it would be great to personally do something for the affected areas in North Carolina. I know you live in nc and Greene county and Bertie county were hit extremely hard. I am more than willing to help and donate.
Thanks for posting this and putting something together, Collin. I sent a box earlier this week to the church mentioned by “Couponing to Disney” but was hoping there was more we, as a couponing community, could do. I live in IL and there doesn’t seem to be anyone putting together a collection anywhere near me. THANK YOU!!!
I know there are a lot of people like myself that want to help but don’t know how. Sure you can send $ to th Red Cross but what if you don’t have $ to do that but know you have things people can use. I can’t wait to see what project unfolds – I know Hip2Savers will help!
Just yesterday I took items to a local church that is taking a truckload of stuff to Alabama today. I included scrubbing bubbles, windex, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos, soaps, etc. I don’t keep a very big supply but I know they will appreciate anything.
Waiting to see what you have up your sleeve Collin! We live in CO – but I went to school in MO and still have lots of friends who live there; some are originally from farther south – I’m hoping anyone who has family there is hanging in okay. Being so far away from the area, and not having a ton of cash to donate, it does make you feel helpless to do much. Please let us know how we can be of help.
I LIVE IN WESTERN NEW YORK AND HAVE FAMILY DOWN IN SCOTTSBORO, ALABAMA AND WOULD LIKE TO SEND MUCH NEEDED SUPPLIES TO THOSE IN THE SOUTH THAT DESPRETLY NEED THEM, BUT I AM A MOM OF 3 WHO’S HUSBAND JUST LEFT AND WILL NOT GIVE ME A DIME, SO IM JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE KNOW OF SOMEWHERE I COULD DROP THE STUFF OFF AT, AS I HAVE NO MONEY TO SHIP THERE!!
If you are in Buffalo (or near) please contact Nicole:
Buffalo: Nicole LaMoreaux – (917.681.0257 or nicole_lamoreaux@hotmail.com)
Thank you Collin. I just started couponing and I’ve gotten a lot of things for free or cheap and I’m donating them. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have gotten these deals and wouldn’t have been able to donate these items because we are on a tight budget. God is good.
I live in Memphis, TN, and flood victims are filling up shelters here in Shelby County. The flooding is supposed to get worse as the Mississippi River crests in a few days. Many basic supplies are needed. I have already donated items from my stockpile directly to the main shelter at Hope Presbyterian Church, and they are distributing the supplies. Their website has a list of needed supplies, and they are updating it daily. You could ship a box of supplies to them, or if you happen to be driving through Memphis, drop it off. Here is the link.
https://www.hopepres.com/shelter
They REALLY need baby care items, such as diapers, formula, creams and lotions.
I may not have a huge food stock, but I don’t have a problem donating what I’ve got. Let us know what we can do, every little bit helps!
I am getting things together to send down south and have a nice pile of stuff so far. I’ve only been couponing for about a month and a half so I don’t have a lot stockpiled yet but I’ve got some to give. I’ll wait for your follow up on this post to see your tips!
Red cross accepts mileage donations too, i donated my continental frequent flier miles
I really wish Amazon or Diapers.com could give us a discount if we are sending bulk items to relief areas. Does anyone know of any companies offering this? I donated to the Red Cross but feel like there is so much more that needs to be done.
I live in Western Kentucky; fortunately, I am not in the flooding. However, within 30 miles of my home are many people waiting for the waters to recede so they can go back and see if they have anything left. It’s overwhelming to see. Next week a local power company (Paducah Power System) is having a “stuff the truck” project to collect cleaning products, bug spray, sunscreen, etc. for the flood victims.
Wendy
Did you see the news last night were the kroger in Paducah that had to close due to the water GAVE AWAY !! to those that were in need food instead of letting it go to waste. I was never so proud to say I shop at krogers!! They have also tried to make sure to relocate their employees to the other stores if possible till this store can reopen.
I’m in Memphis also and the Miss. River and it’s tributaries are filling up at a rapid rate. Just today they have had to evacuate 20k people. There are people here that won’t leave their homes because they have nowhere to go and water is at their doorstep! The residents of Shelby Co are in desperate need of help as well as the surrounding counties/states. Please see https://www.staysafeshelby.us/ for more ways to help.
I live in North AL and packages of diapers and wipes can be shipped directly from Amazon to those in need. (A great way to use some of those Swagbucks!) I posted about the info here – https://passionatepennypincher.com/blog/?p=17676
Hello fellow couponers! I live in Alabama and have encountered LOTS of patients that were affected by the tornadoes. So many have lost everything and are appreciative for anything. On facebook there is a group called toomers for tide. It is for the Auburn Family to support the Alabama family. there you will get losts of information on where to send your items as well as links to news stories for those affected.
I recently donated all of my stockpile and all of my formal dresses as well as my wedding dress to a Cullman church that is donating to those who are in need. Please continue to keep our state and those others affected by this tragic event in your prayers.
I’ve already donated many stuff to my local womens shelter the other day, so right now I don’t have many left in my stockpile, and my stockpile is small. But try to get stuff together to donate.
Can’t wait to find out how to help! I live in North Florida and a know someone whose coworker has family up there and is taking stuff up every weekend. I donated most of my toiletries stockpile and a few other items I’ve gotten free or cheap with deals lately. I’m happy to help some more though if I can! 🙂
I’m in! Just let us know what we can do, Thanks Collin for bringing us all together on this.
It bothers me that the National News Agency’s have just about stopped covering these disasters. When Hatti had their earth quake last year, we heard about it for months (not saying that was bad), but I can not believe they won’t do as much for our own victims of these disasters. I have e-mailed CNN, Fox and MSNBC my feelings on this, maybe everyone should?
The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga partnered with Volkswagen of Chattanooga to open the Tornado Relief fund for the people of Chattanooga, North Georgia and Northern Alabama.
The Foundation has purchased tents, chainsaws, food and water for our neighbors that were involved in the storms and tornadoes that hit this area so hard last Wednesday. If you wanted to make a monetary donation, please visit the website: https://cfgc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=121&Itemid=46
Thanks for all of the help from the readers. Some of the schools in Alabama have been completely destroyed and they are in desperate need of school supplies for the rest of the school year. As a teacher I know how important supplies are so if possible please send anything that could help out these children for the rest of the school year. Many have lost everything and something as small as their own folder and notebook would make all the difference in their lives.
Do you have any additional information on school that are in need? Places to ship items? I would have never of thought of school supplies to be donated. Please let me know if any ideas! THanks!
Where I teach, we contacted the schools directly which was easy since we are less than an hour down the road from Phil Campbell and Hackleburg. I did however ask around and these were links I was given:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-for-hackleburg/189702571076579
https://education.ua.edu/about/news/tornado-relief/
These are two different areas of Alabama but I do know that Hackleburg was absolutely devastated and is having to have school in area churches as there is no school left. I will ask around and if I find any more info I will let you know. Thanks in advance!!!
love reading this! What a blessing!