A Gift from a Bargain Hunter

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

EECM supporter and friend, Jim Lockard,* loves a good deal. I like a good deal myself, but not like this guy.

He scours the paper for ads from grocery stores and will hit as many as five different stores in a single food run to make sure he's getting the best price available on milk or steak or clementines. He collects Groupons (those discount coupons that are all the rage) with wild enthusiasm. Half off kayaking on the Allegheny? Yes! Twenty-five bucks for a $100 gift certificate to a photo-book merchant? Absolutely! And with the rise of Restaurants.com, I don't think he'll ever pay full price for a meal again.

There's a corollary to this Olympic-level bargain hunting. I truly believe that it causes Jim physical pain to let a good deal escape. If he doesn't need that particular item, he looks for someone who does. That's the beauty of a big heart.

And so, a few weeks ago, he happened upon a sale on men's winter parkas in a favorite catalog of his. He didn't need another coat... But it was such a good deal...

What to do?

Answer: buy it for EECM's Homeless Programs! Which he did. And not just one coat. He bought and shipped three brand new winter coats to EECM to be distributed to the men staying in our homeless shelter.

Hats off to you, Bargain Hunter!

*Full disclosure: This particular EECM superstar also happens to be my father. He's awesome.