The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Local celebrities bag away for hunger
Local natives and county advocates rolled up their sleeves during a Celebrity Bagging event at Giant Eagle.
Local natives and county advocates rolled up their sleeves March 20 during a Celebrity Bagging event at Giant Eagle Supermarket in Amherst.
Shoppers at Giant Eagle, 2201 Kresge Drive had the option to have their groceries bagged by Julie ChaseMorefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio; Lorain County Commissioner Lori Kokoski, who is honorary chairwoman of the food bank’s Harvest for Hunger campaign; and Tiffany Tarpley, WKYC anchor-reporter and Lorain native.
Lorain County mascots such as Stomper of the Lake Erie Crushers Baseball Team, Titus the Titan of Lorain High School and Comet Man of Marion L. Steele in Amherst participated in bagging, as well as rooting on celebrity baggers and hanging out with shoppers.
Chase-Morefield said the event’s purpose was to raise enough funds to provide one million meals to those in need.
To provide funds for the initiative, Second Harvest accepted donations of either $1, $5 or $10 from shoppers.
Every dollar donated to the food bank during the event equaled five meals provided, Chase-Morfield said.
Initially, only shoppers who donated would get the opportunity to have their goods bagged by the celebrities.
However, the celebrities said they bagged for all shoppers because it was a fun activity and great to give back to the community.
Chase-Morefield said that Second Harvest staffers Mindi Flynn, with donor services, and Susan Bartosch, director of external affairs, created the event.
The event was a way for staff to have fun while getting the community active in Second Harvest, she said.
Kokoski said she has never worked in a grocery store, but she enjoyed participating as a celebrity bagger.
“It’s great to see how people are so giving,” she said. “We live in good community; I don’t care what anyone says.”
Although Tarpley does not live in Lorain anymore, she said she still comes home once a week to visit her parents.
She said she tries to get involved in Lorain County communities as much as possible.
Whether it’s speaking at events or volunteering at Lorain City Schools, Tarpley said she wants to continue to help and stay active in her community.
Tarpley said she also enjoys participating at events in Lorain because she gets to see familiar faces.
“It’s awesome to give back and give back within your own community you grew up in,” she said. “It’s fun.”