Pechanga Band of Indians is making sure that food deliveries in the community keep moving.
Representatives from the Pechanga Resort Casino Monday donated a new refrigerated box truck to the Community Food Pantry of Murrieta in Riverside County, California. The 25-foot vehicle, valued at more $157,000, will be used to deliver meat, eggs, milk, produce and other refrigerated goods to the approximately 40,000 people served by the pantry.
“The gift of this truck means everything to us at the Murrieta Pantry, and to everyone who relies on us,” said Community Food Pantry of Murrieta Manager Maria Bhanukitsiri in a statement. “Without this truck, we would have very little to offer our clients and the pantry may cease to exist. The population of our area has grown tremendously over the years, but so too has the need.”
The refrigerated truck enables the pantry to accept perishable goods from local grocery stores reluctant to donate food prone to spoiling.
“We rely heavily on the donations from our local grocery stores and regional creamery to be able to provide nutritious food items for our clients,” said Bhanukitsiri.
In addition the refrigerated truck, Pechanga’s casino food supplier Sysco donated 200 pounds of non-perishables to the Murrieta pantry.
The new vehicle replaces a refrigerated truck donated by the Pechanga Tribe in 2012.
“We are honored to provide the refrigerated truck to the wonderful people at the Murrieta Pantry,” said Pechanga Development Corporation President Ken Perez. “It was not that long ago that our Tribe did not have much and we were the recipients of charitable community outreach. We never forget that and we look to do what we can to help those in the community who are experiencing tough times.”
The Community Food Pantry provides food to food banks in the region including food banks located in Lake Elsinore, Temecula Bridge, Fallbrook and Hemet.
