"We started about 3 years ago couponing. Jamie lost his job. He worked in the automotive industry and we needed a way to save money. We thought we can't cut our house payment or other bills, so we thought, let's try groceries to see what we can do."
And what they did was mind boggling. Joni used to spend $1200 a month on groceries. Now, just $200 a month and did we mention the Crothers are a family of 9!
"I'm like an over-achiever. If I can get a few things, I can get a lot of things free. So it just kind of took off from there."
And that leads us to inside Joni's garage. This stockpile is not for show, it's for sharing. Joni and her husband have turned their love of coupons into a full time Christian ministry. "I was a mom 20 years ago and was in need. I'm going to cry and I hate that and I know what it means to give back to people. It is important. We need to give back and so it is a ministry."
Eighty percent of the groceries the Crothers have collected over the years, they've donated to charity. "We've been able to give back $100,000 to the community. And I am not saying that to get a pat on the back, I'm doing that to let people know you can make a difference."
Joni says she's excited about being on tonight's show. It will air tonight at 9:30. She hopes her message will go beyond saving bucks at the grocery store.
"It was just a neat opportunity. I really felt like I am on national TV and I get to witness for God and I honestly feel that this is a God thing."
There is a viewing party tonight at Boulevard Church of Christ. It's free and open to the public. They're asking people to bring a snack item and juice box to be donated to Sylvania Area Family Services. The show starts at 9:30 pm on TLC.