Member #176 Missing In Rolled Oats Accident
Ithaca, NY
August 30th 2025
GreenStar Co-op member #176 was reported missing in a bulk bin incident late on Saturday afternoon. Staff reported hearing an "oh my" followed by several minutes of the sound of rolled oats falling against a polished concrete floor. The Manager on Duty did a head count and was able to account for all shoppers except member #176.
The Bulk Department Manager was quoted earlier in the week that the rolled oats bin was sticking, unfortunately they were mumbling it under their own breath to no one in particular. The pile of rolled oats in the bulk aisle stood 4 feet high and 5 feet across, plenty of surface area to bury a member from the early 80s.
GreenStar management scrambled to find the snow shovels which had been put away in the storage shed for the season. Estimates are it will take several days of moving cases of Le Croix and Field Day pasta sauce in order to access the shovels.
Staff discussed trying to get survival supplies to member #176 while the rescue mission came together, but store management said "I mean, can't she just eat the oats?"
