Dahl the Coupon Ambassador uses her couponing skills to gift food, water, household supplies and other items to people in need. Photo by Phil Custodio

BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
For Dahl the Coupon Ambassador, a pair of scissors and a pile of coupons is all she needs to help people in need.
“I coupon to give all away,” said Dahl, a Clarkston-area resident since 2000. “I want to be able to help people who fall through the cracks, people others write off, who have been in prison, or are struggling with alcohol or drugs.”
She has struggled with health and life issues, enough that she is dealing with post traumatic stress disorder and does not want to give her full name.
“Situations happen, I know,” she said. “Being homeless, I experienced it. I’ve lived in a shelter.”
She suffered a stroke in 2011, and would watch extreme couponing shows on television while recovering.
“My son suggested it,” she said. “I couldn’t talk. I was using a walker. My speech was horrible. But the more I watched, the more my speech would come back. Cutting coupons kept my brain active.”
She was called to use her new couponing skills to help others about five years ago.
“It took years and lots of prayer to give me this opportunity,” Dahl said. “God told me, don’t sell anything. People are in need, they are hurting.”
She sorts and clips thousands of coupons every week to buy food, water, laundry detergent, and other supplies, then packs and wraps everything, decorates the bags and baskets, and donates them to people in need.
“Trust in God for everything. There has to be a God, he gives me the ability to do what I do,” she said. “I believe God puts sales on just for me sometimes, to be able to bring blessings to others.”
Her ministry is supported by her aunt, businesses including Meijer, Kroger, JC Penney, Rite Aid, and CVS, as well as the community, she said.
“Clarkston is a community where people give,” she said. “Clarkston Lighthouse is a blessing. Clarkston Community Church, Pastor Greg (Henneman) is a amazing pastor. He helped my son tremendously. I can’t thank him enough.”
She raised her two children as a single mom, Devere, Clarkston High School class of 2008; and Dene, 2006 CHS graduate.
For more information or to help, email Couponambassador@yahoo.com.