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Free Tastes Good!

Saving and Sharing for Christ


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**URGENT OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY** Help us feed the Homeless/Less fortunate on Sunday, January 19th!!

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Feeding the homeless in Toledo
**URGENT NEEDS – WE NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE**

We will be doing a monthly outreach to help feed the homeless/less fortunate in our community (Recipe for Meatloaf is at end of post).  We are scheduled for   Sunday, January 19th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Bethlehem Baptist New Life Church at 1430 W. Bancroft Street, Toledo, OH 43606.  This is for the entire family so feel free to bring your children.  We have a  sign-up sheet for all item that we need.   PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE NOTES BESIDE EACH ITEM YOU ARE SIGNING UP FOR SO YOU PROVIDE THE CORRECT QUANTITY NEEDED!! We need all the food to be brought in the 1/2 size aluminum pans (Standard 9 x 13 and approx. 2″ deep). Please make sure they are completely full as that is what we are basing the portion sizes on. You can find these at any grocery store, Meijer, Walmart, Target, etc.

To sign up for the items you want to bring Go HERE!! If you want to sign up for multiple items, please feel free to do that. We need all items at the church by 1:15 p.m.  PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THE ITEMS TO THE CHURCH (unfortunately, we will not be able to pick ANY items up) All items have to be cooked as we only have a warming unit for the food. The link above should take you directly to the sign-up sheet. Also, if you would like to make a monetary donation visit the Miracle CHRISTmas website and click on the “donate” tab for a secure paypal donation. Thanks for helping us feed the least of these ~ MATTHEW 25:40

If you are willing to help the day of the event, please sign up also – that section is at the bottom of the sign-up sheet! We will need many to stay afterwards to help us clean up please. Thanks for continuing to be the hands and feet of Jesus!! This is such a cool outreach and I am really excited about this!!  You guys are simply amazing!

Meatloaf
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 20
Easy but delicious meatloaf recipe
Ingredients
  • 4 pounds ground beef
  • 2-1/2 egg
  • 2-1/2 onion, chopped
  • 2-1/2 cups and 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2-1/2 cups and 2 tablespoons dried bread crumbs
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup prepared mustard
  • 3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons ketchup
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk and bread. Season with salt and and place in (3 – 4) lightly greased 5×9 inch loaf pan, OR form into a loaf and place in (2) lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
  3. In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 – 1 hour 15 minutes

 

GOD IS GOOD. . ALL THE TIME!!




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GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!

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Outreach Opportunity
I totally stand in Awe of God’s goodness and all of your generosity. I put out a call on Thursday to see if you could send me coupons so we could make a huge donation to Sylvania Area Family Services of cereal (Kids NOT included:). There is a huge sale going on at Giant Eagle and with the coupons, all of this was FREE. We still have 100 more boxes to purchase, but this is what we were able to score today with all the help we had. I cannot thank you all enough and tell you that it takes ALL of us to make this happen w/Christ in the center of it. Some printed coupons, some clipped coupons, some met us at the store, but ultimately the end result is IT TOOK US ALL to make this happen. . don’t ever discount the smallness of any act of kindness. It all matters. . all for the glory of God!!! This is NOT couponing, but this is a ministry and many lives can be changed with the power of Coupons, when it is done to glorify God. My mission continues to be to feed the hungry and less fortunate Matthew 25:40!!

If anyone is still interested in sending me coupons, here are what we need.

I need the $1 Hershey’s Cookies and Creme, $1 Vanilla Chex Mix, and $0.60 Reese’s Puffs.

I need $0.75 Hershey’s,  $0.75 Vanilla Chex, and $0.50 Reese’s Puffs

**PLEASE REMEMBER YOU CAN PRINT 2 PER COMPUTER**

Please mail to:
Free Tastes Good
PO Box 312
Sylvania, OH 43560




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OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY ~ WHO WANTS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK PROJECT?

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2ND-ANNUAL BACKPACK PROJECT!!

**EMAILS WERE SENT TO ALL FAMILIES THAT AGREED TO DONATE, PLEASE RESPOND ASAP SO WE CAN START MATCHING YOU WITH YOUR RECEIVING FAMILY**

There are so many people hurting financially right now that I thought this would be a great opportunity for many of us to help each other out from the blog and facebook page. Last year we were able to fill 152 backpacks.  We are still in the early stages. The receiver would be matched with a family and fill one backpack of supplies from the receiver child’s school list and send it to them or you can mail them a gift card for them to purchase the items.  The receiver would receive the backpack filled for one of their children.  WE ARE ONLY FILLING 1 BACKPACK PER FAMILY THIS YEAR AND ONLY GRADES K-6 and you MUST have a list from the school your child is attending (absolutely no EXCEPTIONS) !!

There are a few stipulations this year and here is the list (please read carefully)

  • You MUST have your school supply list (from your school and we will verify – ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS)
  • We will ONLY be doing 1 backpack per family
  • We are only doing grades K – 6
  • You will be matched with a family and once you are matched, you will be communicating with them only. Once I have you assigned, I no longer will be involved (last year I spent over 100 hours with all the communication and cannot make that commitment this year so it is your responsibility to communicate w/your family)
  • For everyone who is matched will a family I will send out emails Sunday, July 12 and how everyone needs to proceed.
  • We are doing our best to match you with a person in your city/state, but sometimes that is not possible and you may have to mail the items (that is an additional cost to the giver)
  • For those receiving, please be reasonable in your requests to the giving family 
  • For those of you giving, please pray for your family.
  • You MUST FILL the form out by Sunday, 7/14, at Noon or you will not be considered (absolutely no exceptions due to time constraints)

I think this is such a cool way for us to get to know each other and share our blessings with others and super cool that we can help each other out. We all follow this blog and FB page, but now is an opportunity to help our fellow couponing family out. I have a short survey to fill out.

Each family will be matched with a family (giver and receiver) and then you can contact each other that way and send the backpack full of school supplies for each child.  Once you are matched, I will no longer be involved.  It is your responsibility to stay in contact with each other.  Such a super cool way to be the HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS in such a tangible way.

If you are interested in being a giver or receiver, please fill  the short survey out. If you DO NOT FILL OUT COMPLETELY, your name will be removed from the list, so please read carefully:)  Please  prayfully consider getting involved. Also, you will need to respond to the e-mail that I send out no later than Sunday, July 14 at 10 p.m. If you do not respond, you will be removed from the list. . thank you!!!




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CHRISTmas OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY!!

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Here is another outreach opportunity for EVERYONE!! This is such a tangible way to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

I had featured this family about a month ago. The father’s name is Nathan and is in the Toldo Area. He is being treated at SVMMC for leukemia and his chemo meds are $2000/month NOT including other treatments. We are looking to help this family bring a special CHRISTmas to their 2-year-old daughter. We want to get this stuff to the family before Thanksgiving, so I am asking for anyone that signs up for any items, please have to me no later than Friday, November 16. You can mail to MRCC, 4765 N. McCord Road, Sylvania, OH 43560, Attn: Joni. Below is a list of the items that we are looking for.

  • Baby Doll – age appropriate
  • Barbie Doll with a few outfits
  • Dress up princess outfit
  • Dress up shoes/purse, etc
  • Coloring book and crayons
  • $25 Target gift card
  • $25 Target gift card
  • $25 Walmart Gift card
  • $25 Walmart Gift card
  • $25 Toys ‘R Us gift card
  • $25 Toys ‘R Us gift card
  • Stocking and stocking stuffers

If you would like to purchase any of the above items please fill this sheet out HERE with all your information. Do not purchase an item unless you sign up on this spreadsheet HERE so we have confirmation of who is purchasing what and we don’t get duplicate items:)   Please also make sure to send all items no later than Friday, November 16th, to the above address. Again, thank you so much for this wonderful way to be the hands and feet of Jesus!!

GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!




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OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY this Saturday, 10/20 at 10 a.m.

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We are planning a huge haul to benefit Sylvania Area Family Services this Saturday at 10 a.m. at the King and Sylvania Kroger. I need 25 people and 50 Betty Crocker coupons $0.50/2 coupons (see below) and if anyone can print off the $1/4 Totino coupons (see below). Please comment if you can attend, again, we need 25 people. . total donation will be $1200 for FREE. We are each limited to 20 items per transaction and will be passing our catalinas to the person behind us, so cost should be $0 for everyone or possibly $1 if we don’t have all the coupons we need!! We will be getting 100 of each of the following items, Mac & Cheese, Rice-A-Roni, Pasta Roni, Totino’s Pizza, and Betty Crocker Potatoes. We did this last year at Giant Eagle and it was a huge success. Hope to see you all there, please comment if you can attend!!! Such a tangible way to be the hands and feet of Jesus!!!

**HERE ARE THE COUPONS WE NEED PLEASE**

$1/4 Totino’s Party Pizza printable
$1/5 Totino’s Crisp Crust Party Pizza Products via Cellfire
Stack with $1/5 Totino’s Party Pizza (SavingStar.com)
$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes printable
$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes, exp. 11/3/12 (SS 09/09/12)
$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes via Cellfire
$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes (SavingStar.com)
$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes, exp. 12/1/12 (GM 10/07/12)

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OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY – Can you help?

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**OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY**

Here is another outreach opportunity for EVERYONE!! This is such a tangible way to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

We have a young father, named, Nathan in the Toledo Area that is being treated at SVMMC for leukemia and his chemo meds are $2000/month NOT including other treatments. Teri is looking for anything to fill a basket that she is going to raffle off at the hospital so she can send him money to help with expenses and or make a good Christmas for his daughter. I have also asked Teri to get us a CHRISTmas wishlist for Nathan’s 2-year-old daughter and will post in case any of you are wiling to help out in that are also. So, far for the basket she has a Pandora bracelet, gift card to cake in a cup, three oil changes to tire man, a crock-pot, $20 gift card to a restaurant, and a gift card to Inky’s pizza. She is looking for anything that someone would want , even if its the candy to fill the basket with. She is filling the basket until Oct. 15 and then is going to start selling tickets at the hospital from October 15 – November 1st. She is mainly looking if any couponers have anything they are willing to donate ~ any items or wrapped candy. If you can help you can email Teri at teri_minkowski@student.owens.edu  you have and my cell number is 567-395-0802. Please prayfully consider helping this young father out and his family!

GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!




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OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY – Featuring Heartbeat of Toledo!!

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This week we are featuring Heartbeat of Toledo.  This is another wonderful place to donate!!

They are located at:
4041 W. Sylvania Avenue, Suite LL 4
Toledo, OH 43623
(This is a red brick professional building directly across from Franklin Park Mall.)

Their top wish list items are:
Diapers Size newborn-5
Formula-Isomil & Similac
Clothing (especially boys) size newborn-2T

They will gladly accept new and gently used baby items as well such as strollers, exersaucers, blankets, toys, pack and play, etc. The only items we cannot accept are car seats or cribs of any kind.

For more information, please visit www.heartbeatoftoledo.org to learn more about the types of services they offer! Please also prayfully consider making a donation of one of the items above!!

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URGENT OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY!!

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Here is a great way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Covenant Food Pantry in Terre Haute, Indiana operated by Convenant Cooperative Ministry had to close it’s doors due to lack of volunteers and food donations. I just spoke to the director, Rose Aycock, and she informed me they are struggling getting volunteers to help at the food bank. We all know that NOT one person can do all the work and I would ask for all you to prayfully consider helping, even if it is one day a week, if you are in the area. Many people in their community count on this food pantry and again I reference Matthew 25:40.


For those of us that are not local, we can help them with either monetary donations or food donations. They are specifically looking for volunteers on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9-3 p.m. Remember “we” are the church and this is a wonderful opportunity to be the Image of Christ to someone who is going through a dark time and struggling. Convenant Coop Ministry is located at 122 S. 101⁄2 St. in Terre Haute, Indiana. If you are interested or available to volunteer, please call 1-812-478-7700.

CLICK HERE

You can also visit their website www.convenantcoopministry.org!!

None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone and when we do we serve Jesus!! My prayer is that their phone will not stop ringing from so many people calling to volunteer. Let the floodgates of heaven open up! Amen!! GOD IS GOOD. . .ALL THE TIME!!

 




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Whose ready to start changing our communities and filling the shelves at food banks/pantries? WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

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**UPDATE**

Okay, so we are officially up and running and you can make donations at anytime now!! Here is how this will work –We are asking everyone to donate $1. . that’s all you have to do is $1. Of course you can do more if you would like, but if we can all do $1 Jesus will multiply that. We are going to start filling food banks’ shelves. . one shelf at a time. . $1 at a time. . one person at a time. .ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!! If you are willing to donate, please  CLICK on the link HERE TO DONATE YOUR $1!! The food bank will be picked by the 18th of the month and the money will be dispersed to them by the end of the month. You can nominate any struggling food bank/pantry within the USA.  You MUST  nominate them via THIS LINK HERE Please no later than August 15, 2012!! I am truly excited to see what God has in store for this ministry and I hope you are all as excited as I am to watch him at work. Thanks in advance for your prayers!!

So you all know my heart for feeding the hungry and impacting communities, so we will do this on a trial run and see how it goes. This is not couponing this is a ministry for me and I will continue to do whatever I can to make sure people are not going to be hungry or without the necessities (i.e. toothpaste, feminine care products, etc).

Here is how it will work. .

1) We will do this monthly – for the first two weeks of the  month you can nominate a food bank/pantry that you are aware of that is struggling to keep their shelves full. (Please note we want ones that are struggling)

2) If you are interested in nominating a food bank/pantry you will need to complete this form out in its entirety!! – THIS IS LIVE NOW SO IF YOU KNOW A FOOD BANK – PLEASE NOMINATE IT!!

3) On the 15th of the month I will start calling the food banks and getting information. (3 days)

4) I will post about the top 5 food banks and will give everyone 5 days to vote on which one they think we should help. – (18th – 23rd of the month)

5) While everyone is voting on the food bank/pantry we will start collecting money via chipin.com (you can pay via paypal) easiest way to do this. We have one of two ways to do this, we can just keep this open from the 1st to the end of the month and whatever is collect by the last day of the month goes to that food pantry, then we will start a new one on the 1st of the month and do the same thing. Doing this will allow every 30 days to donate . . THOUGHTS PLEASE?

6) I will get two stores that double or have the best sales in the area of the food bank/pantry and will make a shopping list up for them (items that are FREE/CHEAP). If it is a good week, the food pantry could score big time, but if it is an off week, they might not do as well, but at least they will be shown how to maximize their money.

7) I will then put a request out to everyone to send coupons to the food bank/pantry to go along with the shopping list.

8) By the end of the month all money and shopping list will be sent to the food bank/pantry that EVERYONE picked – majority wins.

I would love input. . please remember this is a work in progress and I will start having someone work on a graphic for this also. Please remember we are asking for EVERYONE to donate only $1. . if you want to donate more you can, but please do not feel pressured to (that is only $0.25 per week). We have almost $12K followers so if everyone got involved that would be $12K a month we could raise to bless a food pantry. We truly can change communities, one life at a time, one coupon at a time. . . all for the Glory of God!! Whose in? I pray you all will consider this challenge.

Please start nominating your local food bank/pantries now. . . On the 15th I will compile the list for everyone to start voting. Please pray over this ministry as it is new and I am sure we will embark on some trials. I ask for all of you to be patient with me as this is a work in progress. I am soooooo excited to see what God has planned for this ministry . . and I will continue to pray for it and for the lives of everyone that will be touched by this, both the giver and receiver. GOD IS GOOD. . . ALL THE TIME!!

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**OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY** CAN YOU SPARE $1 TO FILL THE FOOD BANK AT ASSUMPTION OUTREACH!!

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Due to the overwhelming response we have had from so many of you that are out of state or local and cannot get to the Assumption Outreach Food Pantry, we have started a ChipIn Donation Site!! This will allow anyone and everyone to donate via PayPal to help fill the food pantry.  I posted about this organization this morning as their food pantry was COMPLETELY empty.

We have over 11K fans on the FB page and if everyone donated $1, that would be $11,000 for this food pantry and they would be able to fill the pantry (overflowing). Jesus performed the miracle with 5 loaves and 2 fish and we can do the same if everyone gets involved. Please do NOT discount the smallness of your donation, even $1 matters. $1 and coupons could feed an entire family and then some. Please don’t think someone else will step up and do it, let’s all get involved. Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus in such a tangible way. I pray each and everyone of you will get involved. Please also consider donating as a “gift” so no fees are incurred to the food bank. Thanks for considering!!

**HERE IS A SNIPPET OF THE POST or go HERE to read the complete post*

URGENT NEED at Assumption Outreach Center, 219 Page Street, Toledo, OH 43620. Business Hours Monday-Friday 9-2 p.m. When taking donation go to front door, go up first flight of stairs, and go to door on right – ask for Suzie or Ellen. They are a Government Emergency Food Program and I received word this morning from Ms. Suzie Stapleton, Director the the center is COMPLETELY OUT OF FOOD and has nomoney at this time to purchase food from the local food bank. This makes me so sad as families are counting on them. They feed over 1000 families each month and they are COMPLETELY OUT OF FOOD!!

The Assumption Center is a non-profit, charitable organization whose primary focus is the distribution of food. We are able to give out government emergency food to clients who reside in the area bounded by Fulton Street, Manhattan Boulevard, Stickney Avenue, and Woodruff Avenue.

They provide bags of commodities consisting of non-perishable foods. Their food is picked up from the Food Bank once a month and they take whatever is available. Their supplies are supplemented with donations from other churches, schools, and individuals. I am asking each and every one of you (even if you do NOT live in the Toledo Area) to help. Please consider donating just 5 items. We have over 11,000 people who follow the FB page and if every single one of you donated 5 items that is 55,000. You know what that means? The pantry would overflowing with food to feed the least of these – Matthew 25:40. Please don’t think someone else is going to step up and do it. . Let’s be the ones to step up and do it. Let’s show them how kind us couponers can be and show them the power of coupons!! Also, don’t discount the smallness of any donation – they are COMPLETELY OUT OF FOOD so one item is a blessing.

Click here to donate via paypay!! None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone and when we do we serve Jesus!!




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Joni-Family-SmallMy name is Joni Meyer-Crothers and I run this couponing/money-saving blog along with my husband, Jamie. We love to show others how to save money in a BIG way! We do all the work for you. . we do the matchups and show you where to get the coupons, many FREE printable coupons. Sit back and follow the blog and watch your savings increase! Couponing is a ministry for our family as we we love to show others how to save and share from their couponing harvest!

I just recently wrote a book called “Extreme Couponing” (released March 5, 2013)  that gives step-by-step directions on how to coupon.  We have been featured on TLC “Extreme Couponing” five times, The 700 Club, 20/20, Today Show, GMA, HLN, Rachael Ray, AOL “You’ve Got”, Fox News, CNN Money, Huffington Post ~ to see a complete list you can click on the right-hand sidebar and the clips and articles are listed there.

I continue to challenge everyone weekly to donate 5 nonperishable or hygienic items to a local food bank/pantry and/or family you may know in need.  Don’t ever discount the smallness of any act of kindness. . it matters!