Harrington Raceway and Casino partnered with the Food Bank of Delaware’s Milford branch for an enormously successful food drive dubbed “Give and Receive Day” on Boxing Day, December 26.
Aimed to build on the success of the past two food drives, the 3rd annual event was met with an outpouring of community support, which saw lines form nearly an hour before the 11:00 a.m. scheduled start time outside the casino’s gold room.
Customers were asked to bring in three items from various food categories that were in demand from the Food Bank and the response was overwhelming as approximately 2,600 items were donated that filled nine bulk palette boxes. The items included peanut butter, tuna fish, canned meats, cereal, pasta, shelf stable milk and canned fruits and vegetables.
"We can't thank Harrington Raceway and Casino enough for hosting this wonderful promotion,” said Food Bank of Delaware’s Director of Strategic Initiatives Chad Robinson. “It underscores their strong commitment to helping those in need. The Food Bank of Delaware appreciates their support, not only in this, but in their regular volunteer visits and deep involvement in our Culinary School."
“We were delighted to be able to host another successful food drive to benefit a terrific cause,” said Harrington Raceway and Casino Chief Executive Officer Patricia Key. “The outpouring of contributions could not have been achieved without the cooperation of our customers and team members.”
Harrington Raceway Executive Director of Food and Beverage DJ Silicato, Players Club Manager Joanne Durham, Food Bank Director of Strategic Initiatives, Chad Robinson Director of Public Relations Matt Sparacino and Harrington Raceway COO of Hospitality, Hank Rosenberg in front of the Food Bank truck, which transported more than 2,600 items from the donation drive.
Harrington Raceway and Casino has maintained a strong partnership with the Food Bank of Delaware, where currently a team of employees volunteer on a regular basis. Harrington Raceway and Casino has also hired five students from the last two classes of the Food Bank’s culinary program, held at the Milford location. The class consists of a 14-week program of developing skills and a passion for the culinary arts. The final two weeks of the program are internship-based and provide hands-on experience for the students.
“In the casino’s continued commitment to involve ourselves in our community, the Food Bank in one of my favorite partners for what they do for the people of Kent and Sussex County,” said Harrington Raceway and Casino’s COO of Hospitality, Hank Rosenberg. “Not only are we excited to be able to collect all of this food for them, we are proud that a number of our management volunteers at the Food Bank and also of our relationship with their culinary program. It is really eye opening the hunger that exists in lower Delaware and the number of children and adults that depend on the Food Bank for their basic meals that most of us take for granted.”
While the food drive was the most recent of the company’s charitable endeavors, the Harrington-based casino also had similar drives to benefit USO, Toys for Tots and the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware in 2016.
(with files from Harrington)