Ohio newlyweds donate and serve food for wedding reception at local shelter



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Before the pandemic struck, Tyler and Melanie Tapajna, from Parma, Ohio, had arranged to celebrate their nuptials in a more traditional way. They had planned a big party of 150 people and booked a local DJ and caterers to help them celebrate their big day in August.

The couple opted to ditch the large gathering, for safety reasons, and donate what would have been food at their party – from the Ohio-based food truck and food service Betty’s Bomb Ass Burgers – to a shelter.

“It was really either having the big wedding or donating food,” Melanie Tapajna told CNN. “We were actually pretty excited, I think more of the food donation than being stressed out during the wedding.”

01 Newlyweds from Ohio
On Saturday, after a small backyard wedding with immediate family members, the newlyweds traveled to Laura’s Home – a facility for women and children run by The City Mission in Cleveland, Ohio – to donate.

Tyler, who wore a black and white tuxedo, and Melanie, who wore her white lace wedding dress, kept on their face masks and put on gloves and hair nets to serve the food.

They served fried chicken, green beans, salad and mac and cheese to a total of 135 women and children, according to Rich Trickel, CEO of The City Mission.

“Something like this has never happened before,” said Trickel, who coordinated with the couple and the caterer to have the food delivered. “It was really amazing, especially when you think of so many of our clients, the women and children who are in our building, maybe have never attended a wedding like this before.”

The couple said they hope their donation will inspire others whose plans have been derailed by the virus.

“You can definitely give back at times like this,” Melanie said.

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