Silver City, New Mexico, November 11, 2014: Couponing and community come together for the holidays in an effort to benefit disadvantaged and homeless youth, being led by the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (YSAPC).

YSAPC Coordinator, Razanna Robinson-Thomas says, "The Coalition is excited to take couponing to the next level and bring in hundreds of dollars worth of products for our Grant County Youth."

The Coalition intends to purchase products needed by homeless youth for a fraction of the cost by utilizing discount coupons then donate the supplies to local schools. School social workers and staff will oversee the distribution to youth.

Robinson-Thomas says, "Everyone at some point needs a helping hand, and we feel it is our duty to be that pillar of support for the youth of Grant County." Previously, the YSAPC coordinated the summer challenge "101 Things For Youth To Do In Grant County" to great success which an estimated 1000 area youth and their families participated.
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The Couponing Group hosted a recent session of couponing tips and tricks from Derek Ratcliff, YSAPC member and Walgreens Store Manager. Ratcliff gave insights into coupon use including literacy and limitations, and discussed technicalities like store policies and considerate couponing.

Ratcliff touted the benefit of register rewards, discount coupons given at the register that can be utilized on your next purchase. He also highlighted the many uses of store reward cards from receiving automatic discount prices to free items. Ratcliff advised, "Don't cash in points immediately for savings, because when you reach the higher tier, say 1000 points, their savings value increases exponentially."

The group is currently collecting coupons and strategizing on upcoming purchases to get the most for their limited dollars that members are donating to the cause. Robinson-Thomas says, "Anyone in the community, whether you are a novice or experienced at couponing, is more than welcome to join us in our endeavor to coupon for the community!"

The Couponing Group next meets on Monday, November 17, 2014, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Health Council Office's Conference Room, 214 N. Black St. in Silver City.

YSAPC is a program of the Grant County Community Health Council, which is the Health and Wellness Planning Authority of the Grant County Board of Commissioners and supported by Gila Regional Medical Center.

For more information on the YSAPC or the Couponing Group call (575) 388-1198 ext. 24.