More Ways to Help Haiti ~

I wanted to let you know about another way you can help the people of Haiti...

***You can donate your Swagbucks. According to the total amount of Swagbucks donated, Swagbucks will donate an actual $$ amount to relief funds for Haiti according to this schedule:

1,000,000 SB = $100,000.00
750,000 SB = $73,750.00
500,000 SB = $47,500.00
250,000 SB = $23,250.00
150,000 SB = $13,750.00
100,000 SB = $9,000.00
75,000 SB = $6,375.00
50,000 SB = $4,050.00
25,000 SB = $1,925.00
20,000 SB = $1,500.00

This is a great way for those of you to help who may not have another means of doing so.

Help for Haiti: Everyone Can Do Something ~

We have had many opportunities to discuss Matthew 6: 9-21 with our children lately...and the recent events in Haiti just gave us another reason to do so.......

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Our family was discussing the crisis in Haiti over dinner tonight...I know...not exactly dinner conversation, but we have found that the dinner table is sometimes the best time to discuss matters of great importance with our children.


We are praying for Haiti and all the communities and families devastated by this disaster. We cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like. Fortunately we serve a God who knows exactly what suffering is and He goes before us to prepare a way.


During this time, He may be preparing a way for Haiti through the diligent and fervent prayers of the righteous and the generous contributions of His people through physical service and monetary donations.


We are so humbled by the way He continues to provide for our family....and we are so blessed to be living IN HIM,  and to be safe in Him no matter what befalls us...so if giving to efforts that might result in others coming to know the peace and joy we have in Him, why wouldn't we store up those treasures?


In response to God's impressions upon our hearts, my husband and I have agreed to make a contribution through our church to STEP Seminary in Haiti.


Following is a letter written to our church body by Dr. Jean Dorlus, the President of STEP Seminary:

Dear Friends,

You probably have heard of the powerful earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday evening. My family (Barbara, Kendall and Kourtney) is safe.
The damage done is beyond description, it is just horrific. No one can be sure yet to the exact number of victims but the estimate from some of the international organizations working in the country is in the hundreds of thousands of people dead.

As for the seminary campus, many students, staff, faculty, and I were in the main academic building when major parts of it collapsed. Miraculously a lot of us were able to get out, those who were trapped in the building were rescued except for two that are not accounted for. The damage done to the building is beyond repair. We have a lot of dead and injured people very close by in the neighborhood around the campus area. As I went home last night to check on my family, the lost was so great in the areas that I stopped counting bodies.

We are as well as most haitians are sleeping outside because of the severe aftershocks that continue and the cracks done to some of the homes. PLease pray for us, as we find out what to do and how to go forward.

The Internet connection is not working properly and the phone lines are down, but as I find more information I will communicate them to you all.

Jean Dorlus
President of STEP Seminary

My husband and I are confident that our contribution will be put to good use by STEP Seminary, not only to provide for the basic needs of the Seminary faculty, staff and their families to include medical care, food, water, housing, clothing and transportation if required but also to ensure that the gospel is carried forth.


Many other bloggers are contributing to many other charitable organizations and have agreed to make specific donations based on readers' response. Visit Money Saving Mom to learn more about this project. You can make a difference...no matter what your budget looks like!

But most of all, please pray, not only for the physical well-being of the people of Haiti but that through this, many of them will come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Baskets of Hope Update ~

Awhile back I posted about a gift basket project I was planning for single mothers during the Christmas season.

I am so blessed to report that this coming Sunday, friends from church will be gathering at my house to help assemble 27 gift baskets that will be delivered to single moms within the next couple of weeks.

My husband will be glad when all this stuff is gone from our living room but I am thanking God for His excellent provision for this project.

All of this is sitting, waiting to be assembled into Christmas Gift Baskets to encourage single moms. There are lotions, candles, cosmetic bags, weekly planners, notepads, note cards, fingernail polish, lip gloss/balm, purse size kleenex, scrub buds, Christmas wishes gift books, Christmas CDs, colorful calculators, travel coffee mugs and much more.

Coupons for Christ covered the expense which was around $500 for everything. That works out to be about $19 per basket.

I thought this was an excellent price since the only things I was able to use coupons on were the lotions and candles. Everything else was purchased on clearance, at the Target Dollar Spot, Dollar Tree and lots of other places. Since this was a "gift" basket project for single moms of all demographics, we wanted it to be mainly gifts and not stuff they needed.

I can hardly wait to help deliver the baskets! I'll be sure and post pictures when they are assembled.

Oh, and I almost forgot, we're including one of these great devotionals in every basket!

How are you being intentional with giving this Christmas season?

Warm a Homeless Child's Feet This Christmas ~

Because Every Child Deserves a Visit From Santa

Founded in 2000, Santa’s Sleigh is comprised of volunteer employees of Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency. This non-profit organization purposes to purchase Christmas gifts for every child who is housed in a homeless shelter in Oklahoma.

This Christmas, Santa's Sleigh is asking for donations of NEW socks in all sizes. If you can donate a pair (or several) of socks, please email Jonessa at jonnessa.hall(at)ohfa(dot)org for more information.

Or call (405)419-8297

School supplies are...

...cheap, cheap, cheap right now and will be until school starts. Here's a great article with ideas for how to use extra school supplies and bless others in the process!

Blessing Others Out of Our Abundance ~

On Thursday morning, I will deliver the bags you see below to Sally Goin, director of FaithWorks of the Innercity, a faith-based neighborhood ministry. FaithWorks operates out of their new community center located right across the street from Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. They offer many services to the families of that area including after school tutoring, English as a Second Language, Saturday Morning Bible Club and Sunday Morning Worship services.

The bags contain all sorts of health & beauty items including shampoo/conditioner, body wash,toothbrushes & toothpaste,
razors & shaving cream,deodorant, lotion, feminine hygiene products,over-the-counter medications and some food items. Most of these items were FREE, only costing sales tax, or SUPER CHEAP!


A huge THANK YOU to Ada, Lynn & Sarah...a few fellow Savvy Savers who donated items to this stockpile. And to all of the women of Faith Bible Church who faithfully bring me their unwanted coupons. Your generosity and thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated.

Benevolent Bounty Recipients

Following is a list of ministries/organization who would gladly accept donations of your FREE and ridiculously CHEAP deals!

Coupons for Christ
Coupons for Christ purchases household and personal care items to donate to innercity families and many other ministries and individuals in need. We employ the simple saving savvy tips found on this blog to get more bang for our buck. You can make donations of your free and cheap items to this ministry by emailing me to set up a time for delivery or pick up.

Hope Pregnancy Center - OKC
Hope Pregnancy Center is an outreach ministry of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children. The mission of Hope Pregnancy Ministries is to help young men and women have hope and choose life in the midst of an unplanned pregnancy.

SKIL - Oklahoma County
SKIL stands for Supporting Kids in Independent Living. The SKIL program offers support for high school students who, for reasons beyond their control, live on their own without any financial or emotional help from parents. Their parents may be abusive, neglectful, addicted, incarcerated, deceased or homeless themselves. By providing transportation assistance, referrals, counseling, life skills education, higher education information/referrals and additional financial assistance, SKIL ensures that these students receive the resources they need in order to earn their high school diploma. The program serves students in Millwood, Oklahoma City, Putnam City and Western Heights school districts. Last year, the program acquired a new pantry due to the efforts of the 45 students who were part of the Youth Leadership Exchange program. The pantry will be stocked with food, school supplies, toiletries and other necessities that a disadvantaged teen might need

Do you have a suggestion to add to the list? Email me!