‘Chicks’ Flock to Jazzercise for Food Drive Saturday

The Chicks are flocking together again to collect food for the hungry this Saturday.

Avon friends Sherry Lunt, Kim Krall and Annmarie Nyikes, also known as Chicks Against Hunger, will hold their second food drive on May 21 to help provide food for those in need in Lorain and surrounding counties.

will be held at Avon Jazzercise Fitness Center, 1502 Lear Industrial Parkway, to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. For only $5 and a donation of non-perishable food items, people may participate in one or all three classes offered at Jazzercise. The classes offered are Jazzercise at 8 a.m., body sculpting at 9 a.m., and the Hunger Hustle aerobic dance at 10 a.m. Prizes will be awarded after the 10 a.m. class.

“If you have ever thought about trying Jazzercise, this is an excellent opportunity to try three different classes for the reduced rate of $5 -- no experience necessary,” Lunt said. “If you don’t want to try Jazzercise, we’ll have a drive-up food collection site in the parking lot, so you don’t even have to get out of your car.”

Anyone physically able to handle an aerobics class is encouraged to participate. Children should be at least 12 years of age and accompanied by an adult. Overflow parking for the event will be available at nearby businesses, she said.

Last summer, Lunt, Krall and Nyikes, former neighbors, formed Chicks Against Hunger to help gather food for those in need. In June 2010, Krall was laid off from her job. Through networking, she met the board president of Second Harvest who said there weren’t many food donations from Avon or Avon Lake.

“This really struck a chord with Kim,” Lunt said. “We are all firm believers that if each of us did one small thing, it would make a difference. When we heard from Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio that there isn’t really that much food collected in our area, we set out on a mission to change that. Also, with the economy the way it is right now, and so many of our friends losing their jobs and feeling the pinch, we wanted to help.”

Chicks Against Hunger held its first food collection for Second Harvest last August, which Lunt said was a huge success.

“We were overwhelmed with the support of our friends, families and community at our 2010 food drive,” she said. “Our goal in 2010 was to collect 1,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, but we exceeded that by a lot. Our 2010 food drive collected over one ton of food: 2,174 pounds, to be exact.”

Along with the Jazzercise event this year, the Chicks are planning another food drive for Second Harvest on Aug. 14 at TheRetirementPeople.com office, 37271 Colorado Avenue. Between the two food drives, Lunt hopes the community will exceed last year’s goal in food donations.

“Our 2011 goal is two tons -- 4,000 pounds,” Lunt said.

Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio helps provide food to people in need in Crawford, Erie, Huron and Lorain counties. 

“The need is right here in our own backyard, so please consider donating non-perishable food items. Every little bit helps. It all adds up,” Lunt said.

For more information on Chicks Against Hunger and their upcoming events, send an e-mail to ChicksAgainstHunger@gmail.com; check out the group's website, or “like” their Facebook page.