Giving it back...
Sometimes when I'm out enjoying a great sale like the one that just took place at Jewel, people will ask me what I'm doing with all the food I'm buying. It's no secret that I am a weekly contributor to our local food pantry. I love contributing to the food pantry because I know exactly where my donations are going and that they're being used -- and it's just a cause I strongly believe in. People need to eat, and I've been really blessed to know how to shop on the cheap. I can spend a small amount of money and walk in the pantry with a large amount of food for them.
Our pantry has been hit hard over the past month serving double the residents that it did even just a month ago, and I think it's going to get worse before it gets better. Each week, the pantry offers a list in our church newsletter of items they need. Earlier this month, the list said "Anything and everything. We are bare to the walls." Reading that just broke my heart.
So today I did the Jewel deal a few more times, and my children and I took 5 bags of groceries to the food pantry. The last time I was at the pantry, I offered to take one of their employees shopping with me to show them how to get the deals. Today, they took me up on it! Mary was a very good student of the Jewel deal, and it was such a great feeling to help her fill a cart full of food for our pantry and show her exactly how to make the pantry's monetary donations stretch even further.
The best part? We ran into my friend Amy at the Jewel and she was in the checkout lane doing the deal another 10 times, back to back. Her cart was LOADED with food when Mary and I were ready to leave with the pantry's purchases.
Amy followed us out and pushed her cart over to the food pantry's van too, and she told Mary that much of her cart of food was also for the pantry. So their van went back to the food pantry with even more food than they expected -- about 19 trips through the checkout lane's worth! And because we also used coupons with the items we bought -- I believe the total everyone spent was under $10. (And, of course, the pantry still has a $10 Catalina coupon to use later from this deal!)
If you're enjoying these deals as much as we are, consider donating some of what you're getting too. I guarantee that it will make you feel fantastic to do so.
It is so great to be able to
It is so great to be able to donate to food pantries! Thanks again Jill for all you do! I cant help but have a lingering thought in my head about how you were able to get all the Jewel deals for 10 dollars, if Im underststanding this correctly. I have been following your advice for a while now but it seems I didnt get that good of a deal like you did. I must be doing something wrong:( I wish I had more of a "stash" so I can give more. I currently give a few items to family members now and then. I subscribe to 2 Tribunes, perhaps I'll work myself up to four. Can you breifly tell us how you worked the deal or give any other tips? I have been to the super couponing class 1 and 2 but wish I was as good as you Jill! lol Any tips from anyone would be appreciated! I would love to walk into the food pantry near me with bags of groceries! Thanks for the help! Sorry for the troubles!
Sale
This original article that everyone is commenting on is over three years old - it was posted in 2008 (though the sentiment is still true today!) The Catalina sales had a price spread back then where they were figured on the regular price, but you paid the sale price -- it meant for a lot of great deals for not a lot out of pocket.
OOOPS! I feel silly! I
OOOPS! I feel silly! I didnt notice the year. Just looked at the month! lol I'll have to pay better attention! Thanks Jill!
Donating unused, unopened Depends products..
Would anyone know where I could donate incontinence supplies that were for a relative that won't use them? I know many people have an incontinence situation, and all sanitary products are costly..I live in the Evergreen Park, IL area, so if you know of where they can be dropped off let me know.. Thank you..and Thank you to all the kind souls who donate goods to pantries..
St. Paul's Diaper Bank-McHenry, Illinois
In addition to 'baby' diapers, they are ALWAYS getting requests for such things. Father Jim that runs it has the BIGGEST heart and I can tell you he works VERY hard to make it successful-just a thought! :)
Likely any pantry
Many pantries will take them, as well as any kind of personal care item -- they typically are not limited just to food items. Call your closest pantry and see! I know my local pantry loves to receive diapers, toothpaste, shampoo, etc in addition to food.
Giving It Back
I agree, Jill! When we were dirt poor, I realized that if I gave even one item to the food pantry (although we hardly had anything to eat), somehow, I would end up with more food in the pantry which would be unexplainable; however, the giving principle always works. Sunday, my husband announced during our church service that we've decided to tithe on my deals every month. I had about 10 people come up and ask me to teach them so they too can help support our food pantries even more. Thank you for your terrific teachings and beautiful heart to serve our communities!
Beautiful Idea
This is a wonderful act of kindness. If everyone did 1 kind gesture a day the world would be a better place. Share the blessings.
God Bless You!
I too donate to the local food pantry in Lake Zurich. Also with any freebies I don't use, I know that someone else may and I get them while out shopping to donate. If everyone of your readers donated say $2.00 worth of groceries each week they would be in better shape then they are now.
Bump
Bumping up the list of food pantries for those who may be looking for a place to donate. :)
Huntley Food Pantry
FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH 10547 Faiths Way Hours: Wed. 4-7pm 224-569-6501 ext.3
Thanks Prea!
Two more! : )
Schaumburg Food Pantry is open by appointment.
Please call (847) 884-0030 and ask to speak with the General Assistance Department for further information on delivery or use of the pantry. Their current list of most needed items can be viewed at http://www.schaumburgtownship.org/services.htm#pantry.
Willow Creek Church has a pantry at the Willow Creek Care Center and Food Pantry in Hoffman Estates off of Hassell Road on Stonington Ave. http://www.willowcreek.org/storypage.aspx?pageid=161 has more information.
A list of food pantries - by county with phone numbers
Cook County
Arlington Heights: Elk Grove Township, 2400 S. Arlington Heights Road; (847) 437-0300
Arlington Heights: Wheeling Township, 1616 N. Arlington Heights Road; (847) 259-7730
Barrington: Barrington Township, 602 S. Hough St.; (847) 381-5632
Bartlett: Hanover Township, 250 S. Route 59; (630) 540-9085
Des Plaines: Self-Help Pantry, 600 E. Algonquin Road; (847) 375-1443
Des Plaines: Maine Township, 1700 Ballard Road; (847) 297-2510
Glenview: Northfield Township, 3801 W. Lake Ave.; (847) 724-8300
Hoffman Estates: Schaumburg Township, One Illinois Blvd.; (847) 884-0030
Hoffman Estates: Willow Creek Community Care/Food Pantry, 2080 Stonington Ave., Bright Hope Center; (847) 882-3663
Mount Prospect: CEDA Northwest, 1300 W. Northwest Hwy; (847) 392-2332
Palatine: Palatine Township, 721 S. Quentin Road; (847) 358-6700
DuPage County
Addison: Addison Township, 50 E. Oak St.; (630) 530-8161
Bensenville: Bensenville-Wood Dale Food Pantry, 192 S. Center (Faith Community Church basement); (630) 766-9382
Bloomingdale: Bloomingdale Township, 123 N. Rosedale Road, annex building; (630) 529-9993
Carol Stream: Lutheran Church of the Master, 580 N. Kuhn Road; (630) 665-5188
Glen Ellyn: Glen Ellyn Food Pantry, 493 Forest Ave.; (630) 469-8668
Lisle: Lisle Township, 4711 Indiana Ave.; (630) 968-2087
Lombard: York Township, 1502 S. Meyers Road; (630) 620-2400
Naperville: Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, 556 W. Fifth Ave. (at Mill Street); (630) 355-3663
Oakbrook Terrace: Salvation Army, 1S415 Summit Ave.; (630) 629-4948
Wayne: Resurrection Catholic Church, 30W350 Army Trail Road (at Route 59); (630) 375-7185
West Chicago: Wayne Township, 27W031 North Ave.; (630) 231-7173
Wheaton: Milton Township, 1492 N. Main St.; (630) 668-1616
Wheaton: People's Resource Center, 201 S. Naperville Road; (630) 682-5402
Kane County
Aurora: Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry (Hesed House), 659 S. River St.; (630) 897-2127
Batavia: Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry, 100 Flinn Drive; (630) 879-3784
Carpentersville: F.I.S.H., Meadowdale Mall; (847) 428-4357
Elburn: Elburn Food Pantry, 525 N. Main St.; (630) 365-6655
Elgin: Salvation Army, 316 Douglas Ave.; (847) 741-2304
St. Charles: Northern Illinois Food Bank, 600 Industrial Drive; (630) 443-6910
Lake County
Barrington: Cuba Township, 28000 W. Cuba Road; (847) 381-1924
Gurnee: Warren Township, 17801 W. Washington St.; (847) 244-1101
Indian Creek: St. Mary of Vernon Church, 236 U.S. Hwy. 45; (847) 362-1005
Ingleside: Grant Township, 26725 W. Molidor; (847) 740-2233
Lake Villa: Lake Villa Township, 37908 N. Fairfield Road; (847) 356-2116
Libertyville: Libertyville Township, 359 Merrill Court; (847) 816-6800
Mundelein: Fremont Township, 22376 W. Erhart Road; (847) 223-2847
Park City: Northern Illinois Food Bank, 473 Keller Drive; (847) 336-3663
Round Lake Park: Avon Township, 433 E. Washington; (847) 546-1446
Waukegan: C.O.O.L Food Pantry, 123 Water St., (847) 662-1230
McHenry County
Crystal Lake: Interfaith Food Pantry, 257 King St.; (815) 455-0961
Marengo: Marengo Food Pantry, 829 Greenlee; (815) 568-7950
Spring Grove: Helping Hands Food Pantry, 2502 Spring Ridge Drive; (847) 973-0207
Food Pantry, Chicago
Hi icoupon2,
Do you know is there any Food Pantry at Chicago? Thanks.
The Lakeview Pantry in Chicago
They're located on Broadway near W Sheridan. I like to stop in on M,W,F before noon becasue I know I'll be able to catch someone up front who can open the door for me. Distribution begins on those days at noon which can be really crowded and busy in there so I try to avoid that.
They will take food and personal care items and acid/heartburn stuff but not other meds like the dayquil/nyquil.
I used to that that stuff to Heartland Health Care on Lawrence but they can't take it/distribute it any more.
Anyone know who can? A place in DuPage county would be great since were moving there soon.
In Chicago
we donate to The North Park Friendship Center at 3448 W. Foster Avenue. The accept donations Monday Wednesday & Friday. Their site is: http://www.npfriendshipcenter.org/
Kane County Sugar Grove Food Pantry
Please add Between Friends Sugar Grove Food Pantry www.sugargrovefoodpantry.org
We are in desperate need for Holiday meal items: stuffing, mushroom soup, turkeys, hams, olives, cranberries etc.
Algonquin - Lake In the Hills Food Pantry
Algonquin-Lith Food Pantry
www.alith-foodpantry.org
600 East Oak Street
Lake In the Hls, IL 60156
(847) 854-1904
Thanks Prea!
Another Lake County Food Pantry
Wauconda--Island Lake Food Pantry in Wauconda on Main Street
847-526-8684
http://www.islandlakenews.com/Wauconda%20Island%20Lake%20Food%20pantry.htm
Meijer Donates
I saw at Meijer today you can purchase gift cards for the local food pantry. It stated what food pantry the donations would go to and listed an assortment of items that are given. If you don't have time to do the shopping...this is also an easy way to help people in need. They were selling them in $10.00 increments.
Thank you Jill for teaching and encouraging us how to give back to our communities. I now give regularly to my local food pantry and it is great to know I am giving back to those around me. I am also teaching my children the importance of giving and helping others and that is priceless. Thank you again!
Cermak does it too
They also have a number of 'packages' and they list what is in each package and how much the donation is for each package.
paying it forward with our deals
I know I do save stuff for Christmas boxes when I get good deals. We are trying to make it a family tradition to send one Operation Christmas Child box for each of our children at Christmas. It is SO easy to fill the box with ANYTHING the kids can use - that 5th free tube of toothpaste or one of the several free toothbrushes and so on... I think in the future we may want to try sponsoring a whole Christmas for another family in need, but things are a bit too tight for us to do that just yet. I also like their option that allowed us to track the location where our Christmas boxes end up! Makes the whole giving thing more tangible for the kids and when they get a thank you note from the child who received that gift... it's priceless. It really is.
For the tax-minded folks, donations like this are also tax deductible.. after all, saving pennies everywhere we can is crucial these days!
I like the idea of helping the food banks stretch their dollars! I'll be sure to try that myself. Since we moved I haven't had time to look for our new local food pantry, so thank you for reminding me!
Campbell's Soup --free tomato seeds & will donate tomato seeds
I am not sure if this is proper & I apologize if leading people to another site if it is disrespectful to Jill, but I think that in the spirit of donating I need to share. www.freestufftimes.com has a link to www.helpgrowyoursoup.com where you click on a button & Campbells will donate 50 tomato seeds to plant gardens in communities & schools through the National FFA Organization and then if you sign up to receive free tomato seeds by mail they will donate 100 more tomato seeds -- goal is 22.5 million.
I tried just going to www.helpgrowyoursoup.com and just using a can of soup I had to enter the codes, but for some reason it didn't work. So you need to use the codes posted on www.freestufftimes.com and then choose Chicken Noodle. Seems to be the only combo that worked. Code 1 = P8039, Code 2 = U6
The HGYS site takes a very long time to load if you have dial up like me, but I just wait until I have other things to do (cooking, whatever) and then come back.
gift baskets
I've always collected free stuff - stuff I have NO use for! I take all the electronic stuff I get from the cigarette companies or soda companies, etc., or I make beauty baskets from all the free shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, etc., and I donate them to my husband's Boys Club, or the park district, or my kids gymnastics class. When they have fund raisers, they raffle off my baskets, to make a few hundred bucks on something that I got for free or maybe just paid some tax!
Ditto and Thanks Jill
Man, have I enjoyed the last two hours snooping all over this site. I (like everyone else) love it. We treat getting-the-best-deal as a sport. I thought we were real good at it, but learned a few new tricks from your site.
Kudos for suggesting donations to the food pantries. Before I read this blog, I posted a similar message in the forums (sorry if it was redundant of yours).
"Just because you don't need it, doesn't mean someone else doesn't either".
So if we can get stuff (anything) for free, let's get all we can and donate it to the food pantries - These days their donations are down and demand is up. Bad economic times hit those who are the most-needy. They are not just about food, but also school supplies, household items, hygiene products - anything useful.
This link provides a list of pantries available in McHenry County (IL):
McHenry County Food Pantries
Joe