"Free" Pancakes at IHOP for a Great Cause!

Tomorrow, February 23rd, is National Pancake Day, and to celebrate IHOP is giving away FREE pancakes.  They will be accepting donations to help support The Children's Miracle Network.  So far, IHOP has raised over 3.25 million dollars to help local charities!  This sounds like a great way to help them raise even more!

For more details and to find a location near you go here.

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Giving Back Challenge: Helping Haiti

Update:
I just found out that many bloggers are banding together to help those in need.  It is so wonderful to witness the response to this terrible crisis.  For my part, my family and I will donate 50¢ to The American Red Cross for everyone who leaves a comment on this post or links up below through January 17th.  Please visit Money Saving Mom to see ideas for helping those who are suffering in Haiti and for a list of more blogs you can stop by to leave a comment on. 

It is so sad to witness the devastation that has happened in Haiti.  As a nurse, I wish I could hop on plane and join those providing care to the injured.  Of course that is not a possibility, but there are plenty of other ways to help!  Amber at Coupon Connections NW is asking us to consider giving some of the money from our grocery savings to help with the relief efforts and for fellow bloggers to spread the word.  Click here to access the CNN website.  There you will find links to the highest rated non-profit charities that are accepting donations to help those affected by this horrible tragedy.  I know Money Saving Mom also has something planned that she will be announcing tomorrow.

I am reminded once again by how blessed I truly am.  I pray that God is with all of those in such desperate need in Haiti right now!

Here are some ways you can easily donate.  Every little bit does help!

•  Donate to the American Red Cross here or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
•  Text "HAITI" to 90999, which will charge an additional $10 to your phone bill for the month as a donation.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to link up or leave a comment!  I am touched by all of the  generosity I've seen over the past several days!  We will be making our donation today, January 17th. 

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Donate Toys and Meet Some Seahawks Players

I mentioned  last week that The Seahawks will be hosting a toy drive at Westfield South Center.  I wanted to remind you that it is tomorrow, December 14th from 6pm to 8pm.  Several players will be there to sign autographs in exchange for the donation of a new unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more.  Donations will benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital.  You can find more information about it here.  Thanks Centsible in Seattle for finding the link!

If you can't make it to South Center tomorrow, go here to find other locations where you can donate toys to help kids in need!

Click To Donate A Cup Of Food

I encourage everyone to checkout The Hunger Site.  By simply going to the site and clicking on the yellow tab you will provide a cup to someone in need.  You can do this everyday, no strings attached. 

This is directly from the site:  The Hunger Site was founded to focus the power of the Internet on a specific humanitarian need: the eradication of world hunger. Since its launch in June 1999, the site has established itself as a leader in online activism, helping to feed the world's hungry. On average, over 220,000 individuals from around the world visit the site each day to click the yellow "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button. To date, more than 300 million visitors have given more than 657 million cups of staple food.

Just go here, click, and add it to your favorites tab!

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Papa Johns: 100% Donation to Families of Lakewood Tragedy

There will be a great reason to order pizza next week!  According to Angela, at The Coupon Project, on December 8th and 9th, Papa John's franchises of Western Washington will be donating 100% of their profits to the families of the four Lakewood police officers who were killed this past weekend.  This sounds like a great way to support the families of this horrible tragedy.  For more information check out her post here.

Local Toy Drives

There have been so many great prices on toys this year!  It gives us deal seekers a wonderful opportunity to share the fruits of our coupon clipping labors with those in need.  I hate to think of any kids not getting to enjoy the holidays, so I decided to list some local toy donation sites and opportunities!

Seattle Seahawks Charity Toy Drive:  Several Seattle professional athletes have teamed with Westfield Southcenter, Fed Ex Office and Octagon Football to host the 2009 Seattle Seahawks Players Toy Drive benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital.  It is being held on December 14th from 6pm to 8pm at the Westfield Southcenter Mall.

The 4th Annual Great Toy Drive is being held through December 13th and is sponsored by KING 5 News, Regence Blue Shield of Washington, McLendon's Harware and the Boys and Girls Club.  For more information go here. 

Quatlity Inn & Suites Seattle Center is hosting a toy drive December 3rd and 10th.  All toys are given to Toys for Tots and the Boys and Girls Club.  You get a free Santa photo when you donate.  More information is available here.


Sleep Country's Secret Santa Toy Drive is going on now until December 13th also.  This toy drive is benefiting local foster children.  For more information on this toy drive go here.

US Army Toy Drive has multiple drop off locations in  the Puget Sound Region that you can find here.  This toy drive is also benefiting Children's Hospital.

I'm sure this is just a drop in the bucket of donation opportunities out there.  I know many local churches and community centers are collecting toys as well.  Secret Santa.org  also has a directory that you can enter your zip code into to find a toy drive near you.

Cheap Toys At Fred Meyer Through Saturday

I took advantage of some of the great toy deals going on right now Fred Meyer.  One will be a gift for my youngest daughter, and the other will make a good toy donation for the holidays.

Musical Sit & Spin: $ 5.29 before tax!

Sale Price: $16.99

Use 10% off store coupon

Use $10 off coupon here

Final: $5.21

Explore 'N Grow: $8.49

Sale Price: $14.99

Use 10% store coupon

Use $5 off coupon here

Final: $8.49

Sleep Country USA is currently collecting unwrapped Christmas toys for Northwest foster children through December 13th at their stores.  If you would like to help a local foster child, you can find out more information about it here.

You can see the other toy deals at Fred Meyer this week here. 

Don't Throw Away Your Expired Coupons!

Don't you hate throwing away expired coupons?  I know I do, and I always have a ton at the end of the month!  Well, I recently found out that overseas military families can benefit from them, as they are able to use them at their commissaries for 6 months past the normal expiration date!  I'm sure most seasoned couponers are aware of this, but if this is news to you (like it was to me), you can get more information from the Krazy Coupon Lady's website here.   She has the lowdown on how to package them and where to send them to.

What a great way to help support out troops!

Heading to the Food Drive

Ailish and I are heading over to Fred Meyer in Bothell with this bag, for the food drive that's going on there until 7pm tonight.  If you live near Fred Meyer in Bothell, Issaquah or Renton please stop by and donate!  For more details go HERE.


                                               

Don't Forget about the Food Drive Wednesday Nov. 18

I posted this last week, so this is a reminder.  If you are local, and live near the Fred Meyer in Bothell, Renton, or Issaquah, KOMO News will be hosting food drives at these store locations on November 18th between the hours of 6am and 7pm.  They are in memory of Brenden Foster of Bothell, a youngster whose dying wish was to feed the hungry. These food drives will be benefiting Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline, great local organizations.  Go HERE for more information.

I am so grateful to have a pantry full of food and other products that I have gotten for free or almost free by using coupons and finding deals.  Now is a great opportunity for me to help some of those in need and express my gratitude for all that I have been given!  If you aren't in the area or don't live near one of these stores I am sure there will be lots of opportunities in the coming weeks!  Let me know and I would be happy to spread the word!

Update:  I just found a great Food Bank Challenge at Moneywise Moms.com!  She is challenging shoppers to set aside $10 this month for food bank donations.  Here's what I'm going to donate on Wednesday:

This is from my pantry:

(5) Boxes of Baby Wipes: $2.38 Target

(4) Cans of Tuna: $1.33 Fred Meyer

(1) Quaker Oats: $2.50 Fred Meyer

(2)Boxes of Cheerios: $1.00  from recent Albertson's Promo

(2) Cans of Progresso Soup: 50¢ from Fred Meyer

(1) Skippy Penut Butter: Around 50¢ recently at Target

(2) Progrsso Broth Boxes: Around $2.00 from recent Albertson's Promo

Total: $10.21

Check out her post HERE.  Thanks Maygan, at Maybe Frugal for finding this!

                                               

Food Drive November 18th

If you are local, and live near the Fred Meyers in Bothell, Renton, or Issaquah, KOMO News will be hosting food drives at these locations on November 18th between the hours of 6am and 7pm.  They are in memory of Brenden Foster of Bothell, a youngster whose dying wish was to feed the hungry. These food drives will be benefiting Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline.  Go HERE for more information.

I think this is an awesome opportunity to help some of the many people in need this holiday season.  I am so grateful to have cupboards full of food, and plenty to share with others!

Helping Kids By Becoming a Fan of Cheerios

I just read about this, become a fan of Cheerios on Facebook, and they will donate a book to a child in need.  Today, November 5th is the last day!  Go HERE to become a fan. 

Reading is so beneficial to children and I think this is a great opportunity to help make sure more kids get this opportunity!

You can also become a fan of Toys R Us HERE and they will donate $1 worth of toys when you join.

Thanks Common Sense With Money!