Finding new ways to get more involved with the community

I've been busy lately adding a few new responsibilities. I was asked to join the Advisory Committee for the Butler County Chapter of the American Red Cross. What an awesome opportunity!

It's a great chance to further network within the community and to help get the preparedness word out.

If you have not had the chance to learn more about what the American Red Cross does and how you can help, I urge you to attend a Red Cross Connections.



Here are a list of the upcoming Red Cross Connections:

Wed. 2/11 @ 12 pm, Red Cross – Northeast Office
10870 Kenwood Road Blue Ash, OH 45242

Wed. 3/18 @ 5 pm, Red Cross – Butler County
1227 Central Avenue Middletown, OH 45044

Wed. 4/1 @ 12 pm, Red Cross - Downtown
720 Sycamore Street Cincinnati, OH 45202

Wed. 4/15 @ 12 pm, Red Cross – Northeast Office
10870 Kenwood Road Blue Ash, OH 45242

Wed. 5/6 @ 12 pm, Red Cross - Downtown
720 Sycamore Street Cincinnati, OH 45202

Wed. 5/13 @ 5 pm, Red Cross – Butler County
1227 Central Avenue Middletown, OH 45044

If you are interested in learning more, feel free to contact me or check out the Red Cross online at http://www.cincinnatiredcross.org

February - Today While the Sun Shines... ... we'll learn how to shop the sales

How is your grocery sale shopping going? Have you read through the links from my handout? (If not, I have added them below. I'm in a good mood, what can I say?!)

I have been having fun learning how to be a better grocery shopper.

I attended a meeting with the blogger from Mommy Snacks (http://mommysnacks.blogspot.com/)). She taught us how to use coupons to save even more money. I stopped having the newspaper delivered several months ago, so I use mostly internet coupons to get my deals.

I have learned to write a better grocery list and stick to it. So far, I have been able to shave at least $25/week off my grocery bill. Pretty neat!

I hope that you are able to learn to be a better shopper and save money, too!

1. Start a Price Book. (http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/articles/pricebook.shtml)
2. Decide what you need to buy and look for coupons, if you
are interested in using them.
3. Only buy things you use regularly or wish to donate.
4. Look at the grocery ads each week. Get familiar with them.
5. The best priced items are usually on the front and back.
6. When you buy an item on sale, buy 2x more than you need.
7. Always ask for a raincheck if an advertised special is out of
stock. While you are waiting for the product to come back
in, look for more coupons for that product.
8. Shop at other stores, like Aldi or bakery outlets.

More information available at:
http://www.BePreparedCincinnati.com
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/Resources/PDFs/SP18.pdf
http://www.wikihow.com/Grocery-Shop-and-Cook-Frugally
http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/tips/grshopping.shtml
http://www.cincinnaticents.blogspot.com/
http://organizedhome.com/make-price-book-save-money
http://mommysnacks.blogspot.com/

January - Today While the Sun Shines... ... we'll inventory our supply!

January is inventory month.

How is your inventory? Did you take inventory? What are your results?

If you missed taking inventory, here are some hints and helps:

1. Keep it simple. Create an easy to use inventory format or use a
pre-made form from www.BePreparedCincinnati.com.

2. Group similar items together. This makes keeping up so much
easier.

3. If you have items in several locations add a column labeled
location and note where each item is stored.

4. You may want to add one more column and label it: goal. In the
next few days I will let you know exactly what that number is for
your family.

5. Post a copy of your inventory list in every location where food is
stored, and update it when you remove an item.

6. When the grocery ads come out, check the used column to
determine what you will purchase that week.

More information available at:
http://www.BePreparedCincinnati.com
http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/FN_500.pdf
http://blog.totallyready.com/?p=93

2009 Food Storage Themes announced

- We’ll inventory our supply (January)
- We'll learn to shop the sales (February)
- We'll start getting out of debt (March)
- We'll learn to cook using food storage basics (April)
- We'll get our 2 week water supply (May)
- We'll plant a garden (June)
- We'll work on our menus for our 3 month supply (July)
- We'll learn how to dehydrate our food (August)
- We'll learn how to can or bottle our food (September)
- We'll get our 72 hr. kits together (October)
- We'll start (or finish) our 3 month supply (November)
- We'll get stocked up on toiletries (soap, shampoo, toilet paper, etc.) (December)

The details and all the pretty files are located at http://www.BePreparedCincinnati.com in the files section.

5 gallon buckets and lids

If you are interested in placing an order for 5 gallon buckets and lids, the cost is $4.39 for the set.

If you are interested in ordering, please let Jennifer know by January 15, 2009. Orders will be available for pickup on January 20th.

There is still time to add or create a new order for Walton Feed. See the previous posts for more information!

New Cannery Price List

The new list will be posted in the files section of www.BePreparedCincinnati.com.

The price list is effective December 20, 2008.

White wheat will be available then.

Walton Feed Order

All:

I know that the deadline for the Walton Feed order passed long ago. However, we are still looking for about 700lbs worth of an order to be able to place the order. I'm hoping someone (or multiple someones) missed the deadline and would like to still place an order.

Here's how to place your order:

1. Send me an email ASAP (wcfoodstorage at gmail dot com) to let me know you want to place an order.
2. Go to www.waltonfeed.com, scroll to the "Shop" and search the menu heading listed there. Most the food is located under "Rainy Day Foods" or "Organics". Click into the items to add them to the shopping cart. Don't add your zipcode when you place the items in your cart.
3. Go to the shopping cart, and below all the items will be a shipping weight.
4. Multiply the shipping weight by $.19 and then add $5. This will be your shipping cost.
5. Print out a copy of the shopping cart, write in the shipping cost. Also, add your name, address, and phone/email.
6. Write a check to me.
7. Place items 5 & 6 in an envelope and mail to
8. Wait for a phone call or email to confirm arrival of your order.
9. Wait for another phone call or email to let you know the day and time of your pick-up.

10. Somewhere in there -- talk to your friends and neighbors and see if they want to place an order too. We really need more orders. (And I really need more food for me from Walton!)

Jenn

Update: The order was placed on December 23, 2008.