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Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

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  • Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

    NOTE: You can also now help for free at Coupon Quiz

    There is nothing worse than finding a great coupon only to realize that it has already expired. While the automatic reaction is to toss it into the trash, before your do consider giving it new life by sending it to military families overseas.

    Military commissaries overseas accept manufacturer cents-off coupons for up to six months past their printed expiration dates. That means that coupons that are useless to you can still save oversea military families some money. By simply sending any expired coupons you have to <A HREF="http://www.ocpnet.org/bases.shtml">select bases overseas</A> that want and need the coupons, you can help out military families save money on everyday groceries.

    You can contribute coupons as an individual or organize a group to help out in sending coupons. Either way, it doesn't take much effort to make a difference and help the military families save some money. Coupon inserts from a typical Sunday paper have over $100 worth of coupons so simply collecting these can be a great help.

    Before sending the coupons, you will want to contact the base to see if they have any specific preferences in the way the coupons are sent. Most military bases receiving the coupons ask that you neatly clip the coupons (which you will want to do anyway to save on postal charges) and sort them into "food" and "non-food" categories. The "food" category should contain coupons for anything that humans would eat while the "non-food" category would be everything else (pet food coupons would be considered an "non food" item)

    Once separated, add up the value of all the coupons in each category. Place the coupons from each category into a zip lock plastic bag and write the category and the dollar value of all the coupons on the outside of the bag in permanent ink.

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    There are a number of ways to send the coupons to the bases. The cheapest is by "Parcel Post". If you chose to send the coupons this way, make sure that the coupons have not been expired for more than two months since Parcel Post takes quite a long time to travel to its destination.

    For more complete information on the Overseas Coupon Program, you can visit their website at <A HREF="http://www.ocpnet.org/">ocpnet.org</A>. The site also provides the following list of military bases that accept the expired grocery coupons:

    Alconbury, U.K. - U.S. Air Force

    RAF Alconbury
    423 ABS/DPF
    APO AE 09470

    Ansbach, Germany - U.S. Army

    CAFAP
    ACS - 235th BSB
    Unit 28614
    APO AE 09177

    Atsugi, Japan - U.S. Navy

    U.S. Naval Air Facility
    Navy FSC
    PSC 477 Box 32
    FPO AP 96306

    Bad Aibling, Germany - U.S. Army

    CAFAP - ACS
    CMR 407
    APO AE 09098

    Bamburg, Germany - U.S. Army

    ACS - 279th BSB
    Unit 27535
    APO AE 09139

    Brussels, Belgium - U.S. Army

    CAFAP - ACS
    Unit 21420, Box 6675
    APO AE 09705
    (this base is actively seeking coupons)

    Darmstadt, Germany - U.S. Army

    CAFAP
    ACS - 233rd BSB
    CMR 441
    APO AE 09175

    Gaeta, Italy - U.S.Navy

    Volunteer Coordinator
    Navy FSC
    PSC 811
    FPO AE 09609

    Giessen, Germany - U.S. Army

    Outreach Program Coordinator
    ACS - 284th BSB
    Unit 20911, Box 132
    APO AE 09169
    (this base is actively seeking coupons)

    Grafenwoehr, Germany - U.S. Army

    ACS - 409th BSB
    ATTN: AETTG-SB-CFA-ACS
    APO AE 09114

    Hanau, Germany - U.S. Army

    CAFAP
    ACS - 414th BSB
    APO AE 09165

    Ikego, Japan - U.S. Navy

    COMFLEACT DET.
    FSC
    PSC 474, Box 700
    FPO AP 96351-0007
    (this base is actively seeking coupons)

    Illesheim, Germany - U.S. Army

    Coupon Program Chairperson
    ACS - Illesheim AST
    CMR 416, Box I
    APO AE 09140-0015
    (this base is actively seeking coupons)

    Incirlik, Turkey - U.S. Air Force

    39 MSS/MSF
    ATTN: Family Services
    Unit 8790, Box 175
    APO AE 09824

    Iwakuni, Japan - U.S. Marine Corps

    USMC Community Services
    ATTN: 5PSVC
    PSC 561, Box 1867
    FPO AP 96310-1867

    Kitzigen, Germany - U.S. Army

    417th BSB ACS
    ATTN: Coupon Exchange
    CMR 449
    APO AE 09031

    Lakenheath, U.K. - U.S. Air Force

    48 MSS/DPF
    ATTN: Coupon Connection Program
    Unit 5200, Box 105
    APO AE 09464-0105

    Naples, Italy - U.S. Navy

    Director, Navy FSC
    PSC 810, Box 53
    FPO AE 09619

    Okinawa, Japan - U.S. Army

    Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator
    ACS - 10th ASG
    Unit 35115
    APO AP 96376-5115

    Okinawa, Japan - U.S. Air Force

    Family Services Program
    18 MSS/DPF
    Unit 5134, Box 80
    APO AP 96368-5134

    Osan, Korea - U.S. Air Force

    Family Support Center
    51st MSS PACAF
    Unit 2097
    APO AP 96278-2097

    Rota, Spain - U.S. Navy

    Navy_Marine Corps Relief Society
    Rota Office, Spain
    PO BOX 2002 UNIT 50085
    Fleet Post Office AE 09645

    Sasebo, Japan - U.S. Navy

    Navy FSC
    ATTN: Coupon Dist.
    PSC 476, Box 62
    FPO AP 96322-1114
    (this base is actively seeking coupons)

    Schweinurt, Germany - U.S. Army

    ACS, 280th BSB
    ATTN: AETV-WG-SJD
    CMR 457
    APO AE 09033
    (this base is actively seeking coupons)

    Sigonella, Sicily - U.S. Navy

    Director
    Navy FSC
    PSC 824, Box 2650
    FPO AE 09627-2650

    Spangdahlem, Germany - U.S. Air Force

    52 MSS/DPF
    Unit 3655, Box 65
    APO AE 09126

    Vicenza, Italy - U.S. Army

    CAFAP
    ACS
    CMR 427, Box 19
    APO AE 09630
    (this base is actively seeking coupons)

    Vilseck, Germany - U.S. Army

    Director
    ACS - 281st BSB
    ATTN: AETV-CFA-ACS
    Unit 28038
    APO AE 09112

    Yokohama, Japan - U.S. Navy

    COMFLEACT DET.
    FSC
    PSC 472 Box 8
    FPO AP 96348-1150

    Yokosuka, Japan - U.S. Navy

    Coupon Distribution
    COMFLEACT
    Family Service Center
    PSC 473, Box 116
    FPO AP 96349-0116

    Yokota, Japan - U.S. Navy

    Navy FSC
    374th MSSQ/MSF
    APO AP 96328-5000
    Last edited by jeffrey; 10-31-2008, 07:00 PM.

  • #2
    Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

    Wow- a great service project for our Girl Scout troop.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

      I send my coupons overseas and I received a thank you letter from the base i sent it to! It was a nice surprise!!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

        Jeff
        Although Guam does not get much attention from the media, this island is very much military oriented. I'm surprised to not see Guam on your list as a "adopt a base" program.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

          Originally posted by CJsoccerchic
          Jeff
          Although Guam does not get much attention from the media, this island is very much military oriented. I'm surprised to not see Guam on your list as a "adopt a base" program.
          Not sure why, but possibly because Guam is a US territory and not a "foreign country" You would have to email the program director ( adoptions@ocpnet.org ) to find out for sure.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

            After working in a commissary state side, I want to repeat this... please send EXPIRED COUPONS OVERSEAS. You can send coupons with a good period of time left on them to US commissaries.

            You'd be surprised how many times I had to reject a coupon because it was expired- and the attitude reflected towards me for denying a coupon the customer found up front.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

              We just moved overseas and I can use expired coupons. If anyone has any I would love them!

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

                Wow, thank you for the link, that is really a great program

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

                  Wonderful idea! My brother was happy to get these when he was stationed in Korea.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Expired Coupons - Give Grocery Coupons New Life

                    I'm in Guam and if anyone wants to send any to me and the ones that I don't use, i can give to the commissary, I'm more then happy for them! (i'm a total coupon person!) Message me for my addy! Thanks!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      this is my first time ever hearing about this, I hope it gets more attention. I'll send some off on Monday or Tuesday after the paper comes out.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Glad to see there is something useful I can contribute to military families at a low cost!!!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          When we lived in Japan this was great. I am glad to see everyone jumping on board to help those overseas. The cost of living is very expensive even shopping at the commissary so every little bit helps. THANKS.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Thats an awesome article!!!

                            Nothing bothers me more than when I have a great coupon and I let it expire because I forgot to check the date. Great advice. I'm definitely going to try and take advantage and hope others do to.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Oh wow...I had no idea!!! I'm glad I'll be able to help out!!

                              Comment

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