MEXICO — For 90 minutes each Thursday, three women — Candace Casey, Judith Odyssey and Kelly Merriam — sit in the corner at the Northern Oxford County transfer station entrance and sift through a growing mound of recyclable newspapers.
They are searching out Sunday coupons inserts to send to military personnel overseas.
When asked if people are surprised when they see them, Casey said that they are.
“Most people ask us what we’re doing,” and we explain that coupon inserts for the project may be left at the Rumford Public Library, Casey said. “We get a lot of encouragement. People now come every week. We’re here every Thursday afternoon.”
Casey, Odyssey and Merriam volunteer for the Expired Coupons for Overseas Military, Rumford Chapter. It is part of a nationwide effort to gather manufacturer’s coupons and get them to the military personnel living overseas, who can redeem them up to six months past the expiration date at on-base stores.
“After we’re finished, Eric (Schmersal) will come in with a loader, and they’ll haul it out,” Casey said. “They don’t touch that pile until we go through it on Thursday afternoon. They know what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”
Casey said she has a contact in Okinawa, Japan, that is willing to receive, organize and distribute coupons to Americans serving our country.
Many people have separated their coupon inserts to give to the group if they’re going to the transfer station at a time we are there, she said. The most popular coupons are for diapers, as there are military families with young children who benefit from this program.
“I’ve had a drop station at the Rumford Library for four or five years,” Casey said.
The drop station is a bright-colored box right inside the door of the library where people can drop their loose coupons — or preferably, the entire insert.
Casey guessed that that it takes the group about 24 hours over the course of a week to go through the papers, then cut, sort and fill a box with 12 to 15 pounds of coupons. They send boxes out whenever they get full.
“Two weeks ago, we shipped two boxes, 25 pounds,” Casey said. “That cost $16 a box. I’ve got a box that’s full and we’ve started on another one.”
As far as results, Casey said she’s had the woman in Okinawa send her photocopies of the receipts as a result of coupon savings utilized in this program by military people.
“Last I knew, our group was supplying coupons for 40 families,” Casey said, noting that the number is likely higher now because their group is sending out more coupons than before.
Casey said they need more volunteers, not only to help sift the pile of papers, but also to cut the inserts.
“Normally, we call from here straight home,” she said. “We go to her (Odyssey’s) apartment and we sort them. We’ll be cutting tonight and most of the day tomorrow.”
While they get a contact person from the organization and an address to send the coupons to, they get no financial support.
“We’ve been paying for this out of own pockets, and it’s gotten to the point where we can’t,” Casey said, noting it’s become a financial burden for them. “We could easily go through $30 a week where it’s $16 a box, and could ship two boxes.”
For that reason, they are holding a first-time fundraiser for their effort.
This Friday through Sunday, they are holding a yard sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Main Street in Mexico, across from the Frosty Delite.
Anyone who wants to join the yard sale can bring their tables and set up. Casey said they are asking for a $10 donation. People are also welcome to drop off or donate items for the yard sale.
There will be a lot of books and clothing, as well as a variety of other items for sale, she said. There will also be a bake sale.
“Support the soldiers on the Fourth of July!” Casey said.
Casey got involved in this program when she lived in Florida. After moving to Maine, she began collecting coupons on her own as Sunday River was sending her three or four dozens sets of inserts a week that had been left behind by people staying in the condo and hotel.
“My daughter worked up there and people would leave the coupons,” she said.
Odyssey got involved in the program after seeing an article about it in the newspaper. She has been working on this project for 10 years.
“For all they do for us, this is the least we can do for them,” Casey said. “I just find it appalling that we so underpay our military, and they get food stamps. Coupons is like cash and so, if we can send them coupons, extra cash in their pockets …”
Odyssey actually met someone who has benefited from the program.
“She said there was no way she would have ever fed her six kids without this,” Odyssey said, noting that this motivates her to continue volunteering her time to the project.
“I’m not able to do much,” Odyssey said. “Most of my time has to be spent sitting and I said, ‘The least I can do, with what they’re doing for us, is sit and cut some paper that gives them money.’ There’s something that I can do to help.”
To volunteer for the program or for more information, call Casey at 364-6141 or Odyssey at 507-1415.
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