The Woodbridge woman trying to feed 30,000 people in need was recently featured on the Steve Harvey Show. Watch video
She thought she was on the show to discuss her organization's initiative to feed 30,000 people in need by her 30th birthday.
But Lauren Puryear, 29, a native of Paterson, was taken aback when Steve Harvey called to the set a woman Puryear had helped the year before.
Puryear -- founder of a local outreach group, For The Love Of Others -- was featured as a guest after gaining national and international recognition for her goal to feed thousands of people in need by next September.
But at one point during the episode, Harvey said, "But that's not why we brought you here. Really, what happened was, you changed one family's life in a big way, and they wanted to say thank you."
Harvey then brought out Leslie Navarro, a 31-year-old single mother from Paterson. Puryear, who now lives in Woodbridge, Virg., had helped provide food for Navarro's Thanksgiving dinner, as well as items for Christmas and school supplies for her two children.
Members of the audience were seen wiping tears.
"I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for us," said a teary-eyed Navarro, sitting next to Puryear. "I'm still a mom, you're still a mom. You know it's a struggle. And everything you've done for us, I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Navarro had been struggling financially last year when she and Puryear met on Instagram.
"I was totally surprised," Puryear told NJ Advance Media in a phone interview. "I had no idea ... I cried. Oh my goodness, that was such an overwhelming feeling."
Puryear also received $5,000 from Harvey on behalf of Green Dot.
Puryear, who is also a single mother of a 5-year-old son, has been shocked by the response to her initiative.
She has been contacted by television shows and organizations throughout the world -- including in Thailand and in New Zealand, seeking to learn more about her couponing prowess.
Universities, outreach groups, and hundreds of people have contacted her to offer help. Puryear plans to conduct a virtual class to teach people how to use couponing to help others.
Puryear said her mentoring in couponing to help others was Lisa Hill-Price, a Baltimore woman who runs a cancer awareness group.
Hill-Price introduced Puryear to couponing a year ago, and she said she was so proud of her good friend, and fellow advocate.
Hill-Price has been using couponing for three or four years to buy hygienic products for her cancer patients. Hill-Price acknowledged Puryear was a little skeptical of couponing at first.
"Last year, I was (telling) her about couponing, and she said, 'Who has time for that?'" said Hill-Price, chuckling.
Hill-Price said Puryear quickly got the couponing bug, and realized how much food she could purchase to feed thousands of people in need.
Puryear excitedly called her to tell her she was couponing, Hill-Price said.
"She is everywhere now," she said. "I'm proud of her."
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.