UPDATED 3/27: Coronavirus kindness roundup: Casinos donate excess food to their communities

Cory Roberts, CDC Gaming Reports

March 27, 2020 5:51 AM

Cory Roberts, CDC Gaming Reports

Associate Publisher’s note: Donating food and want to be on this page? Please email croberts@cdcgaming.com and I will add your kindness to the list! As more casinos donate food, we will re-run this article in Last Call.

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As casinos close, so do all their restaurants and buffets that were ready to serve customers. Rather than let the food go to waste, many casinos are taking quick action to turn their food into donations to schools, food pantries, and more. Below the headlines are excerpts from the article – click the headline to read the full details!

3/27 (NEW) Wynn Resorts distributes financial aid, food and essential supplies to local medical facilities and nonprofits

Wynn Resorts has donated more than $875,000 worth of goods and funds since March 17 when the company temporarily closed its resorts in Las Vegas and Boston to help prevent the community spread of the coronavirus. This week, Wynn Las Vegas distributed 95,000 surgical masks, 1,500 N95 masks, and thousands of protective gloves to local medical and law-enforcement facilities that are battling supply shortages related to the pandemic.

Additionally, Wynn donated 175 pallets of food valued at $750,000 to 15 food banks in Las Vegas and three in Boston. The Wynn Employee Foundation, a charitable foundation funded and managed by employees of Wynn, also donated $100,000 in funds to the Three Square food bank in Las Vegas and $25,000 in funds to the Bread of Life food bank in Boston.

3/27 (NEW) Caesars donates more than 250,000 pounds of food, thousands of personal-protection supplies across U.S.

Caesars Entertainment to date has donated more than 250,000 pounds of food, the equivalent of more than 200,000 meals, to numerous food banks and charities, as well as thousands of items including gloves, masks and hand sanitizer to local hospitals, first responders and local charities.

3/27 (NEW) MGM Resorts pledges $1M for employee emergency fund, donates equivalent of 400K meals to food banks

MGM Resorts International said Monday it was donating $1 million to its emergency relief fund to assist employees for short-term relief as the company navigates through the coronavirus pandemic shutdown, which forced the closure of its 20 resorts across the country, including 13 properties on the Las Vegas Strip.

Also, MGM properties donated the equivalent of 400,000 meals across the United States to food banks in the communities where the company operates.

3/27 (NEW) Washington: Cowlitz Indian Tribe to donate $500,000 to local charity

The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, operator of the ilani casino, said Tuesday it will donate $500,000 to the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington’s COVID Response Fund.

The new fund is dedicated to supporting vital services for local people who are most at risk for health and financial challenges due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to a news release.

3/27 (NEW) Five Iowa casinos donate over 10,000 lbs of perishables

Harrah’s and Horseshoe casinos in Council Bluffs donated several pallets between their properties that totaled 7600 lbs of perishables.

Hard Rock Casino Sioux City donated several hundred pounds to the local food bank. Plus they converted their digital outdoor message with a Hard Rock Motto; “Love All, Serve All and Take Time To Be Kind” as a community support message that we’re all in this together. See ATTACHED.

Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs has donated an estimated 3K pounds in food items to MOHM’s Place, which provides meals to single men, women, children, and families who are experiencing food insecurity.

Isle of Capri Bettendorf Casino donated 2500 pounds to their area food bank.

3/27 (NEW) Horseshoe Casino Baltimore donates roughly 7,500 pounds of food to help feed at-risk individuals

Horseshoe Casino Baltimore has donated roughly 7,500 pounds of food to the Maryland Food Bank and other organizations to support at-risk individuals.

From staples such as milk and cheese to a wide assortment of nutrient-rich fresh fruits and vegetables, this week the casino has provided enough food to help feed several hundred people.

3/27 (NEW) Amid temporary closure, Cache Creek Casino resort delivers food to Esparto schools

Eggs by the case, tortillas, fresh kale, sprouts, potatoes and peppers and more — thousands of dollars in food — has been donated to the Esparto Unified School District by Cache Creek Casino Resort.

The high-end food items will be used in the School District’s effort to continue its meal program for students, despite the closure of campuses and classrooms.

3/27 (NEW) Arkansas: Southland Casino Racing Helps Feed the Community

Southland Casino Racing, temporarily closed in coordination with the Arkansas State Racing Commission and the State of Arkansas, has donated large quantities of perishables to two local West Memphis food pantries. Trays of bread, cases of milk, cartons of eggs, fresh produce and more were donated on March 17 and March 18.

3/27 (NEW) Hard Rock Lake Tahoe donates perishables to the Boys and Girls club of Lake Tahoe

Photo of donation. – Eric Barbar, Executive Director of Casino Marketing, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe

3/27 (NEW) New Mexico: Casinos donate food to Laguna students

(Albuquerque) – Route 66 Casino Hotel and Dancing Eagle Casino delivered vegetables, fruit, dairy products and bread to the Laguna Department of Education this week. The perishable goods will help feed nearly 500 students during the current school closures. Photo here.

3/23 California: Augustine Casino donates pallets of goods to local nonprofits

Augustine Casino donated nearly 3,000 lbs. of fresh vegetables, fruit and perishable proteins to its team members as well as Martha’s Village and Kitchen after the casino closed its doors to the public last week. The meat and produce is an integral part of Café 54’s extensive buffet and cafe menu.

3/20 Atlantic City casinos donate excess food during closing

In a city where thousands of residents already lack access to healthy food, the mass closing of businesses and schools due to concerns about COVID-19 left many wondering where their next meal would come from. Less than 12 hours after they closed their doors to gamblers, the casinos were donating pallets of fresh and packaged food to the region’s food banks, community centers and social service agencies.

All nine of the city’s casinos — Bally’s Atlantic City, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort, Resorts Casino Hotel and Tropicana Atlantic City — have been making deliveries or arranging pickups since Tuesday morning.

3/20 Employees of Wynn Las Vegas donate $100,000 to local food bank

The Wynn Employee Foundation has committed to donating $100,000 to Three Square in Las Vegas to assist children and seniors who are food insecure. The donation was allocated from the 2019 Community Grant Fund which is contributed to by employees.

3/20 Las Vegas giants band together

MGM Resorts, Caesars Ent., Sands, Wynn, Stations and Boyd and the other members of our industry are all donating hundreds of pallets of perishable food to Three Square Food Bank and other local food pantries/banks and service providers like City Impact, Veterans Village and others. They have been donating much needed supplies — gloves, hand santizer, to go containers, disposable silverware, etc to community organizations like Catholic Charities and many others.

Station Casinos is a food distribution site for anyone in need and Station Casinos is also staffing weekly distributions at three of the company’s properties. Boyd Gaming and the South Point Hotel and Casino are also food distribution sites. – Dawn Christensen, VP of Communications & Corporate Responsibility, Nevada Resort Association

3/20 Las Vegas Sands responds to the COVID-19 Community Crisis

Las Vegas Sands announced this week that it is donating a total of $250,000 to several important local organizations to serve our community during this time of need. Those organizations include Three Square food bank, Communities In Schools and Share Village Las Vegas.

The Venetian Resort has donated 60 pallets of food to Three Square food bank. The food donation, which consists of fresh produce, proteins and other food items, filled more than 2 semi-trucks and will soon be in the hands of community agencies throughout the

3/20 Reno: Atlantis Casino Resort donates all of its perishable food

Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno is donating all of its perishable food. Front-line team members (housekeeping staff, porters, etc.) were able to select food first, followed by other team members. Food included fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy items, bread, and more. The remainder of the food, which totals approximately 3,000 pounds, is being donated to Northern Nevada Food Bank and other local charities.

3/20 California: Morongo Casino Resort donates from its many restaurants

On Wednesday, Morongo donated pallet upon pallet of food from its many food and beverage outlets to local nonprofits Feeding America and Carol’s Kitchen, as well as to the Morongo Fire Department. – Simon Farmer, Executive Director of Marketing

3/20 Kiowa Casino donates 300 pounds of food to The Kitchen

With the shutdown order now in place, Kiowa Casino had a lot of extra food and they don’t want it to go to waste. The casino generously donated over 300 pounds of food to The Kitchen in Wichita Falls.

3/19 Boyd Gaming donating all perishables from its 12 Las Vegas Valley casinos

Boyd Gaming is in the process of donating all of our perishable food, totaling around 100 pallets, across the Las Vegas Valley (covering 12 separate casino properties) to Three Square Food Bank.

Over the next two days, we’ll be sending over 12 truckloads of food products like fresh produce, bread, cheese and meat to Three Square for distribution at 42 separate food distribution locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley. – David Strow, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Boyd

3/19 Treasure Island donates surplus food to community food banks

Due to the current closure, Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is supporting local community food banks, including My Father’s House, with surplus food. Perishable items, including fruit, dairy products and vegetables will be distributed to those who need it most. Photo of donation. – KC Kappen, The Firm PR & Marketing

3/19 Nevada: Grand Sierra in Reno and SAHARA Las Vegas distribute food to team members

Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno held a food distribution line in its parking lot for team members. Yesterday, team members were able to drive up to receive bags of produce, dairy and other perishable food items that would have otherwise gone to waste. Today, team members were provided flash-frozen hot meals, prepped by resort chefs. SAHARA Las Vegas, GSR’s sister property, is also holding a food distribution event for team members today.

3/19 Pennsylvania: Valley Forge Casino Resort donates to Upper Merion Community Cupboard

Valley Forge Casino Resort was able to donate over $7,200 of perishable produce to the Upper Merion Community Cupboard located at 191 Town Center Rd in King of Prussia, PA. The Upper Merion Community Cupboard is open to anyone who lives in the boundaries of the Upper Merion Area School District and is hungry or food insufficient. – David Strow, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Boyd

3/19 Iowa: Prairie Meadows donates six pallets of perishables

In an effort to sustain its commitment to give back to the community, Prairie Meadows donated six pallets of perishable food items to the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) on Wednesday, March 18.

Earlier that same day, Prairie Meadows also reopened their semi-truck parking lot to truck drivers traveling coast to coast.

3/19 California: River Rock Casino donates to Redwood Empire Food Bank

River Rock Casino in Geyserville California donated a pallet of fresh fruits, vegetables, and fresh Chow Mein noodles to the Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa. – Tim Wilcox, Director of Food and Beverage

3/19: Michigan: Pokagons Donate More Than 7,000 Pounds Of Food

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi has donated nine pallets of food from its Four Winds Casino locations to food banks as the COVID-19 outbreak continues.

3/19: West Virgina: Mardi Gras Casino & Resort donates food

The Mardi Gras Casino & Resort, and over a dozen of their associates, delivered 4,000 pounds of food and supplies, like fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy and bread, yesterday to the United Way of Central West Virginia.

3/19: Ohio: JACK Casino, JACK Thistledown and MGM Northfield Park donate 3 tons worth of food

JACK Casino, JACK Thistledown and MGM Northfield Park have collectively donated more than 3 tons worth of food to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

3/19: Detroit casinos, stadiums donate food, sanitizing supplies

Major downtown venues are donating massive amounts of food and supplies, as they scramble to do some good in the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic. Detroit casinos and downtown stadiums already have donated or are working to donate their unused fruit, vegetables, dairy products, prepared foods and snacks to local food pantries.