Despite clipping nearly $110,000 worth of coupons this year, Keara Lydon hasn't saved a dime at the grocery store.

Instead, the 15-year-old from Cranberry has sorted and bagged the coupons, then mailed them to a military base in Heidelberg, Germany. There, U.S. service men and women and their families can use them at the base store, saving money on everything from yogurt and toothpaste to dog food and cold medicine.

"It makes me feel great to be able to help," said Keara, a sophomore at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School. "I love people and I never stop talking; it's just the way I am."

The idea came about after Keara's grandmother, Pat O'Brien, read in the paper that all coupons, even expired ones, were being collected to help service people overseas save money on groceries.

Keara was attracted to the project immediately. Her grandfather, George O'Brien, is a veteran and longtime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 879 in Cranberry. Her parents, Wendy and Jack Lydon, started spreading the word that Keara was collecting coupons.

The effort was launched in February, and soon neighbors and friends were leaving dozens of coupons on the porch of the family's home in the Ehrman Farms housing plan.

Last summer, Keara wrote about her project in a community magazine. Since then, she has received envelopes stuffed with coupons every day, and a box also has been placed in the Cranberry municipal building for coupon donations.

"It has just taken off," said Keara, who has not kept track of the number of coupons, only the value. "We have coupons everywhere [in the house] and they just keep coming. My favorite is when people send them already cut out. That's the best."

Keara spends about 30 minutes every day cutting out coupons and sorting them into categories, such as food and nonfood items. She has enlisted the help of her grandparents and parents, and she credits them with doing much of the work, particularly during the busy school year.

Keara has played soccer since she was 5 and is the goalkeeper for Seneca Valley's girls' varsity team. She has either a practice or a game each day after school.

Her mother said the family has been happy to help.

"She's always been a giving kid and it makes me feel good that she's looking for ways to help," Mrs. Lydon said. "And this is an easy way for people to help others. Not everybody has the extra $5 or $10 in their pocket to give, but they can do this."

Keara said for each box of coupons sent, she has received a thank-you note from the base commander.

She also has received many nice notes in the envelopes of coupons sent to her by members of the community. Many people have told her they didn't know how to help until they heard about her project and are thrilled to be able to take part in it.

"It's amazing the small things that you can do to help," Keara said. "There are so many people less fortunate than us and it's not their fault. It's great to be able to help."

Coupons, including those that have expired, can be mailed to or dropped off at the Lydon home, 706 Sir Barton Court, Cranberry 16066. Coupons also can be left in a box at the Cranberry municipal building along Rochester Road. Unclipped coupons are accepted, but clipped coupons are preferred.

Keara also is willing to send coupons to other military bases. Requests should include the base address and a contact name because military bases will accept only shipments that are addressed to a specific person.