By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A lawsuit against Dollar General stores in Ohio helped stock the shelves at the Brown Bag Food Project in Bowling Green.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost stopped by Brown Bag on Wednesday as he trekked across the state visiting the food pantries that benefited from a $1 million settlement against Dollar General.
Yost’s office sued the bargain store for unfair and deceptive trade practices after his office began hearing from county auditors across Ohio that the prices on the merchandise were often different than the prices charged at the register. A $1 bottle of shampoo would register $2 at the checkout – and most shoppers were none the wiser, he said. Those who later caught the overcharge were often told the stores could not do refunds.
“So we took it to court,” Yost said.
The state won $1 million in damages, but there was no way to identify all the people who paid more than they should have at the stores. So Yost decided the best way to return the money to those affected was to divide up $750,000 among the places where it would do the most good – food pantries in every county.
“Not many people go to Dollar General on their way to Macy’s,” Yost said, explaining his logic in sending the settlement money to food pantries. “This is how to get the money back to the people who were hurt.”
Yost said this is the first time for his office to disperse money like this to services that are most likely to help those affected.
“My goal is to try to help the people who were hurt,” he said. “This is a good common sense, low cost way to get the money back to the communities.”
County auditors throughout Ohio were given the job of selecting the local pantries to benefit. Wood County Auditor Matt Oestreich selected the Brown Bag Food Project and Perrysburg Christians United food pantry to get funding.
Brown Bag was chosen “because of its broad reach across the county,” said Julie Allison who with Cheryl Frobose of the county auditor’s office attended Yost’s visit.
Both pantries received $5,129.37.
Peg and Amy Holland, the mother-daughter team that coordinates the Brown Bag Food Project, were thrilled to get the settlement money.
“We were very excited,” Amy said.
“Holy cow,” said Peg of her response to the news.
“Our numbers are going up. People are struggling out there,” Peg Holland said.
The money allowed the pantry to expand its Christmas meals, partnering with the Dear Santa program, to reach 150 individuals. The rest of the funding was used to buy items they can’t purchase at food banks, such as meat, dairy, eggs, bread and hygiene products, Amy Holland said.
“It doesn’t take long to deplete those,” her mom added.
Yost said he has enjoyed meeting food pantry organizers across Ohio.
“It’s great being able to meet the people on the ground, doing the work,” he said. “I’m excited to be here to meet these local heroes. Please don’t give up.”
