Woods at Cedar Run seniors undertake patriotic endeavor

CAMP HILL, Pa. - July 10, 2015 - PRLog -- The Woods at Cedar Run senior community is busy clipping coupons this summer.

     Residents aren’t planning a major shopping spree to a nearby grocery store or retailer. Instead, the manufacturer’s coupons are being collected as part of the Overseas Coupon Program (OCP) to benefit military families stationed abroad.

    “Most of our residents are proud to be part of the ‘Greatest Generation,’” said Julie Seifried, Activities Director at The Woods at Cedar Run. “This is a generation that wears its love of country proudly, so this particular project took on a special meaning.”

    “What really surprised the residents was the sheer fact that a typical Sunday paper may have as much as $100 worth of coupons inserted each week, and many times these coupons are merely discarded into a recycling bin,” Seifried said.

   Not anymore. The Woods will continue to recycle newspapers and magazines. But those publications will be missing any coupons that had been inside.

    A group of Woods’ seniors meets each Thursday as part of what they affectionately dubbed “The Gathering.” Lynn Marie Bennett, who is a member of The Woods’ Activity Team, heard about the Overseas Coupon Program and presented the idea to “The Gathering.”

    “The Gathering immediately responded with a great deal of enthusiasm because it was a project they could all participate in one way or another,” Seifried said. “More importantly, this project will benefit military personnel and their families.”

    The Overseas Coupon Program sends manufacturer’s coupons to overseas bases. The website www.ocpnet.org explained:

    “Our program serves military families by assisting you to forward manufacturer’s coupons to overseas military bases,” the website said. “These bundles of coupons are placed on tables, at the PX/BX and Commissary, or handed out for use by military members and families on base. This helps the family save valuable dollars and stretch their budget.

    “This is not a tax deductible charity,” the site continued. “This is a patriotic charity. You are supporting the service person and their family by sending coupons that you do not use, and all of the extra ones that you can find, to them.”

    The residents at The Woods at Cedar Run have been clipping and saving coupons. The seniors and team members are excited about the prospect of sending a large bundle overseas.

    “It gives me so much joy to look out my window and see the American Flag waving proudly as I sit in my recliner and clip the coupons,” said Woods resident Louise Oley Andover, age 90. “I know that in a very small way I am supporting that flag and the men and women who serve our country so proudly.”

    Seifried said the project also provides the residents a sense of fulfillment and a purpose, “knowing they can work as an individual or in a group to do the greater good.” She said the seniors also are organizing the coupons in categories such as food and non-food while also tabulating the value of the coupons.

    “Our former church secretaries, administrative assistants, bank tellers and house wives love being a part of this project,” Seifried said. “The program also puts a spotlight on IntegraCare’s 3-Dimensional Focus of team members, residents and family members working together towards a cause.”

    The Woods at Cedar Run, located at 824 Lisburn Road in Camp Hill, is operated by Pittsburgh-based IntegraCare.

     “The goal of the members of ‘The Gathering’ is to eventually involve everyone at The Woods to make this a successful project,” Seifried said. “Imagine this: One priority mailer can fit up to $2,000 worth of coupons.”