Page 12 - Southern California Gaming Guide • May 2020

Closed Casinos Continue ICommunityDonations
n the time of COVID-19 Southern California Native American casinos continue
donations to local charities and first responders. With all Southern California
th
casinos closed by March 20 , properties began sharing foodstuffs and perishable
items even before they temporarily closed their doors. And the contributions of even more items has followed.
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Pechanga Donates Masks to Local Hospitals
Three hospitals in western Riverside County were able to replenish their critical stock of N95 masks thanks to a donation from the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. Temecula Valley Hospital, Rancho Springs Medical Center and Inland Valley Medical Center each received 1,000 masks for doctors, nurses and other frontline medical staff. The masks were delivered to all their facilities Thursday, April 2nd.
“We deeply appreciate the critical work of our frontline medical professionals,” Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro said in a statement. “These hospitals serve our Tribe, our Team Members and our community. We’re going to do all we can to help get through this pandemic together.”
“You have no idea, this is like receiving gold, literally,” said Darlene Wetton, CEO of Temecula Valley Hospital.“It is so important that we protect
our healthcare workers. With the 1,000 masks,
this will last us about ten days because we are using about 100 per day.”
The Pechanga Tribe also donated food to the Temecula Valley Hospital two weeks before to bolster food supply and increase capacity for nurses, doctors, staff and patients.
Barona Delivers Truckloads of Food
The chefs and the Food & Beverage team at Barona Resort & Casino, owned and operated by the Barona Band of Mission Indians, delivered truckloads of food to the Lakeside School District and to Meals on Wheels in late March amid the COVID-19 pandemic — enough to feed 1,000 people a day.
San Manuel Partners with Feeding America
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated more than 40,000 pounds of food and supplies to Feeding America Riverside|San Bernardino (FARSB). On April 4, FARSB hosted a drive-through
provide basic necessities for their families,” said
Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “The Tribe’s giving spirit is deeply rooted in our beliefs and values that call on us to care for and support one another in times of need.”
FARSB strives to alleviate hunger in the Inland Empire and distributes over 2 million pounds of food per month with the help of over 250 local non- profit agencies. Due to the economic impacts of the current COVID-19 crisis, the number of people who are struggling to have their basic needs met is much higher.
“San Manuel Band of Mission Indians continues to be a strong partner in the fight against hunger,” said Carolyn Solar, Philanthropy Director at FARSB.“Thanks to their timely donation, residents in the San Bernardino region received much needed items to support their families during COVID-19.”
FARSB is leading the fight against hunger in the Inland Empire by providing food access, emergency relief, education, and advocacy to families in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. FARSB opened in 1980 as Survive Food Bank in response to the increasing concern about the dual problems of hunger and food waste in the Inland Empire. Today, FARSB is the primary source of food for over 250 local nonprofit organizations, distributing over 1 million pounds of food monthly to emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, high- need elementary schools, halfway houses, senior
Pechanga Fire Department Chief, Jason Keeling, stacks up boxes of masks as Darlene Wetton, CEO of Temecula Valley Hospital, looks on.
distribution event at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino where about 1,100 cars came through (representing more than 5,000 members of the community) and were given staple items like rice, beans, and orange juice.
“ We know that there are so many people who are in need right now; many have lost their jobs or had their hours greatly
cut back and cannot
PAGE 12 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
MAY 2020