Grange seeks coupon clippers

    GARLAND — The Garland Grange is asking the community to help support the troops and their families stationed overseas by supporting the Coups for Troops program.
    The program was started in 2011 by Stephanie Almasy after attending a couponing class. She learned that military families could use coupons which were expired up to six months at the commissary. After packaging and sending to the military families, within a few months over 400 families signed up to receive coupons, since then the program’s need has increased steadily.

    Recently the Maine State Grange has been approved as a satellite collection center where coupons are collected in bulk, then packaged and mailed directly to individual families overseas.
    The premise of this program is simple. “All you have to do is use scissors,” said Andrea Rollins, program director. “We are simply asking people to clip out the coupons. You don’t need to worry about expiration dates. The only coupons which cannot be used are the ones for specific stores.”
    Garland Grange is asking anyone who wishes to donate any unwanted coupons to bring them to the Grange Hall on the second Friday of each month between 5 and 7 p.m., which is when the Garland Grange’s monthly public suppers are held.
    You can also drop off them off on the their regular meeting night on the first and third Fridays of each month at 7:30 p.m. The Garland Grange Hall is located on the Oliver Hill Road.
    “Dropping the coupons off during supper should be easy,” Rollins said. “We already have supper patrons who come each month with their collection of Campbell Soup Labels, Box Tops for Education, pennies for House in the Woods, and soda can tabs for the Shriners.”
    Other pickup options of coupons  are available by contacting 717-7027 or through the Garland Grange No. 76’s Facebook page.