Craig Lutska went into a three-minute United Way shopping spree Thursday with a strategy and a list.
But as the Greensburg man started his sprint with a shopping cart through the aisles of the Shop 'n Save on Pittsburgh Street, that strategy changed.
He just grabbed as many items as he could.
"After I started pushing the cart and getting to where it needed to be, it wasn't as easy as it looked," said a slightly winded Lutska, 41.
"I didn't think I'd do as well, but apparently I did. ... It's very rewarding," he said.
In 180 seconds, he snagged $396.21 worth of items to be donated to the Welcome Home Shelter of Westmoreland County, a Greensburg homeless shelter for women, children and families.
"It's amazing," said Lyndsay Burrik, Welcome Home supervisor. "We're going to be able to help our families this year for Thanksgiving, and we'll have some for Christmas, too. It's really incredible. He was so fast."
Lutska, who works at the Connellsville plant of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, was randomly chosen for the shopping sprint from 1,511 entries. He received a $250 Shop 'n Save gift certificate for his participation.
"We do a random pull, then we find them and say, 'You've got something to do,' " said Skip Glenn, vice president for research development and marketing for the United Way.
Lutska filled two buggies with groceries, including several turkeys and hams, milk and butter, and even some kielbassi.
"I wanted to get some more diapers, but by the time I got back there with the cart, I wasn't sure if I could just grab them and throw them," Lutska said. "I got some of the things (on the list), the turkeys, the hams. ... I grabbed some produce, not much, and the milk and butter."
This was the third year Ray Charley, owner of two Greensburg Shop 'n Save stores, teamed with United Way to sponsor the ultimate shopping rush.
"Be fast and fill it up," Charley advised Lutska before he launched.
Charley was very pleased with Lutska's take.
"He did a great job in filling the basket with things they really need," Charley said. "We're fortunate we're able to help the community that way."
