A group of employees from Chances Maple Ridge Casino in B.C. and their families have organized a charity car wash to help out local charities. Via the initiative, the volunteers managed to raise hundreds in Canadian dollars which were donated to the Starfish Pack Program and Friends in Need Food Bank. The money will help out children in need from the region.
The charity event was held by staff and their loved ones on July 20, 2023, and it helped raise CA$825 for the Starfish Pack program. This is an initiative that delivers deals for children in need over the weekends throughout the school year. It started back in 2013 after an Abbotsford teacher urged for help as some of her students came to school on Monday hungry.
Helping Out Those in Need
Deana Trudeau who is a B.C. local saw the charity initiative online and left positive feedback for the casino employee group. She said that the staff had the best little helpers, as their children also joined the cause. And added that it was great of them to support such a worthy cause that will help those needing a little help in their own community.
Currently, Starfish Pack delivers 250 packs every week at 23 schools in the district. Program chair Ineke Boekhorst explained that in order to make it to the end of the 2023 school year and start up again in September, the organization would need an additional CA$40,000 to CA$50,000. It is estimated that the cost of filling one backpack for one child every weekend throughout the school year is CA$575.
It should be mentioned, the Starfish Pack program is not the only cause the casino staff has aided in recent times. On July 11, 2023, they handed Friends in Need Food Bank CA$278.35 which was generated via a charity coin drive. The food bank distributes over 660 baskets per month and provides supplies to over 20 other community agencies and programs, including our School Meal/Snack Program.
The program almost came to its doom at the end of 2022. However, a CA$15,000 donation from Prospera Credit Union enabled it to continue running. Back in February, Ms. Boekhorst noted that the number of hungry students the program helps each week has significantly increased. This is thanks to the help from other organizations and volunteers.
B.C. Casinos Help Out Charities
Over the years, casinos in the province and their employees have proved to be quite supportive of charities. One instance of that is when in April 2023, Elements Casino Chilliwack made its largest contribution to charities. The property provided CA$802,832 to the Knight Road Legacy Association, which split the money between 47 charities and not-for-profit groups.
RimRock Casino Port Alberni is also among the generous contributors to good causes. In the summer of 2022, the establishment’s staff collected all forgotten change and slips from its customers and gave them away to charity. The money was shared between Abbeyfield House, the Salvation Army, and Kiwanis Hilton Children’s Centre.
Source: Flanagan, Colleen, “Maple Ridge casino employees raise hundreds for charity” Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News, August 2, 2023
