For the Love of Others

Lauren Puryear, 29, wants to deliver 30,000 meals to people in need by her 30th birthday, and she knows how she'll pay for the food. The Woodbridge, NJ, resident holds a bachelor's degree, two masters degrees, and a PhD in psychology. She's a mental health clinician; a single mom of a 5-year-old-son, and founder of a charity called For the Love of Others.

                                                                                                                          Courtesy photo
She expects to pay for most of the food she distributes to others with store coupons. "I started couponing for food items like spaghetti and meatballs, and I was (often) able to get the items for free, or very little money. She finds coupons in the Sunday paper, or prints them online. "I collect as many as I can, match them to the store, and that is how I am able to get the items for free," she says. "It may look like a meticulous process," she admits, "but once you get the hang of it, it is fairly easy, just requiring persistence and willingness." She's already delivered 5,000 meals to hungry people in New Jersey, Washington DC, Baltimore and beyond, and she's confident she'll reach her goal by next year.