How One Woman Is Using Her ‘Extreme Couponing’ Skills to Help Hurricane Victims
When your garage is so stuffed with goods to donate to Hurricane Harvey victims that you can’t even park in it, you know you’re doing something right. Kimberly Gager, who openly admits that she has a bit of a shopping addiction, has been “extreme couponing” for five years to snag deals on goodies — she rarely misses a sale! — for her family. But now, she’s focusing her gift on snagging deals for victims of the hurricane.
“After Harvey, I kept telling my mom, ‘There’s something more that I need to be doing. I don’t think I’m doing enough,’” Gager, a mother of three, told CBS News. “So I put it out on Facebook.”
She offered to shop on behalf of those who wanted to donate to Hurricane Harvey victims, and, to her surprise, she was overwhelmed with responses. Now, her garage is full of things like detergent, toiletries, diapers, baby formula, wipes, which she regularly hands out to those in need while she’s on her lunch break. When she’s not working or dropping off supplies, she’s clipping coupons. So far, she’s purchased around $5,000 worth of products to help families in need — and spent only about $2,700 of donated money. How impressive!
“Sometimes I’m delivering until 1 or 2 a.m.,” Gager said. “It’s really becoming a second job. I’ve gotten very little sleep. I’m in that store so much now that they know my name,” she joked. “Now even at Target they see me coming they shut down a line and open another. They bring out pallets to roll items out to my car.”
So what’s the reason for her kindness? She’s been a victim of a hurricane, too. In 1999, she lost everything when she was living in Virigina and Hurricane Floyd roared up the East Coast. Her son was only seven at the time.
“Just a hug or a stick of deodorant or toothpaste — that would have been so appreciated at the time,” Gager said.
And to those who have been the recipients of Gager’s care and concern, her work is so appreciated.
“I’m completely grateful. I hope God blesses her in every way possible,” Bridget Martinez, a mother belogning to one of the 30 families Gager has helped so far, said while tearing up. “This is awesome.”
A pack of diapers and wipes may not seem like much, but it can mean a lot to those who have lost everything, Gager explained. “I just want to ease the burden.”
h/t ABC News
Sandra Bullock donates $1 million for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
More from Woman’s World
Hero Mom Sacrifices Herself to Save Her Child From Hurricane Harvey
Tiny Hurricane Harvey Survivor Offers Hope After the Storm
Hurricane Harvey Destroyed Everything But This Firefighter’s Fiancée’s Wedding Dress
