Thanks to more than 500 people every year who give their time to Second Harvest and help us feed the hungry in our area. Over 11,500 hours were logged by volunteers at the food bank in 2009. Volunteers pack over 2,000 commodity boxes every month and help hundreds of families in the Grand Rapids Food Shelf.
Thanks to a very caring community!
Grand Casino Mille Lacs , along with donations from their Guests and Associates, donated a total of $7,083.50 to Second Harvest North Central Food Bank. That translates into more than 35,000 meals and more than 5,000 pounds of food for hungry local families.
The donation was the result of the “Add a Quarter to your Order” promotion, in which Guests could donate a quarter to their food order at any food venue at either casino.
“We appreciate the compassionate support shown by our Guests and Associates to make this donation to local food shelves possible,” said Michael Garrow, Commissioner of Corporate Affairs for the Corporate Commission of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. “Grand Casinos is proud to match the contributions made by our Guests and Associates and glad that we could help increase awareness about the needs of local food shelves as they feed hungry families in Minnesota.
During the check presentation, Sue Estee, Executive Director for Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, reiterated the fact that the demand for food is higher than it has been in recent years. “The donation that we receive today from Grand Casino Mille Lacs will go to purchase food to help the member agencies in Aitkin, Brainerd, Garrison, Onamia, and Isle. We appreciate the dedication Grand Casino has shown, along with its Guests and Associates, to hunger relief.”
Every spring the local scout packs and troops participate in the “Scouting for Food” service project. The local scouts will collect food door to door on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 9 am until 12 noon. The scouts dropped off plastic bags and fliers at most local in-town residents doors this week in hopes of residents being able to donate some non-perishable goods to the food drive. All proceeds of the local drive will go directly to the Grand Rapids Food Shelf located at the Second Harvest Food bank.
Please set out donations on Saturday morning by 9 am so the scouts can pick them up. There are also drop boxes at local churches and businesses in case your pick-up gets missed. Donations can be dropped at the Medicine Shoppe, Ogle’s Market Place Foods, Zion Lutheran Church, St. Andrew’s Church and St. Joe’s.
Please help with this worthy cause if you are able!
Please join St. Joseph’s Church and the Knights of Columbus on Saturday, March 13th from 6-7pm for a Corned Beef Dinner to benefit the Grand Rapids Food Shelf. Tickets are $8 for Adults and $4 for children under 12 and available at the door.
St Joseph’s Church is located at 315 SW 21st St in Grand Rapids. Thanks to the Knights of Columbus and St Joe’s for their support of Second Harvest and the Grand Rapids Food Shelf.
In 2009, there were more than 30,000 individual trips made to area food shelves surrounding the communities near Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley. In response, Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley are joining forces to fight hunger in their surrounding communities through the “Add a Quarter to Your Order” promotion.
The concept is simple. The “Add a Quarter to Your Order” promotion kicks off Monday, February 22. When you dine at Grand Casino Mille Lacs or Grand Casino Hinckley from February 22 until March 28, you will have the option of adding a quarter to your food order. All proceeds will benefit Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, which serves area food shelves around Grand Casino Mille Lacs, and Family Pathways shelters in Hinckley and Sandstone, which serve the communities surrounding Grand Casino Hinckley.
At the end of the promotion, Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley will match the donations raised at each respective property up to $5,000.
