Way to Go! Wantagh student designs tote bag for charity
Lauren Rochel, a junior at Wantagh High School, designed a tote bag available for purchase at Lidl grocery stores. Credit: Dave Keith Photography
A Wantagh High School student is assisting sick and underprivileged children through sales of a limited-edition tote bag.
Lauren Rochel, a junior, used colored pencils to design a map of iconic local landmarks — ranging from the Big Duck to the Montauk Lighthouse — that has been printed on a bag available for sale at Lidl's 21 grocery stores across Long Island. Proceeds from the bags, which cost $1.99, are being donated to the John Theissen Children's Foundation.
Rochel was invited to tackle the art project last year by Theissen, who is a family friend. Her sister Kaitlyn, who is a senior at Wantagh, is a three-time cancer survivor and has previously received support from the foundation while in the hospital, she said.
The bag, of which 20,000 have been made, was unveiled last month at a groundbreaking ceremony for Lidl’s newest store, in Deer Park.
"I was really happy about that fact that it was helping out John," Rochel, 17, said. "He's an amazing guy and just cares so much about the kids and about helping people."
Rochel is a goalie on her school's lacrosse team, chief operating officer of the Virtual Enterprises International class, and a member of the National Honor Society and National Business Honor Society. She also plays in her school's wind ensemble and is active in the Girl Scouts.
— MICHAEL R. EBERT
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
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