Page 8 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Winter, 2021

Stepping up donations to feed those in need
By Lori Beth Susman
MISSISSIPPI — Even before the pandemic spread across America, Mississippi had a poverty rate of 19.5%. The economic impact of COVID-19 has only added to the stress on low-income households in the state. The gaming industry has responded by reaching out to help those in need, recognizing that addressing food insecurity has become a priority in Mississippi.
Sacred Heart Southern Missions (SHSM), an organization that serves those struggling with poverty and other complex issues in northwest Mississippi, is one of the many charities industry members have worked with to aid communities in need. Laura Grisham, PR/communications and grant manager for SHSM, said, “Without a doubt, the pandemic made food the focal point of our service. Through donor support, more than 1.2 million pounds of food was given out this past year and more than 16,906 meals and snacks were served through our Summer Feeding Program and the Garden Café. In addition to our 24 regularly scheduled mobile food pantries, we added one, two, sometimes three additional distributions each month at a variety of other locations throughout our service area... and also provided an astounding 1,477 Thanksgiving food baskets to hungry families.”
Grisham said casinos and their employees have been vital community partners, “Their giving spirit is so heartwarming. They are such a blessing.”
SHSM witnessed rst-hand the quick response to pandemic- related community needs by gaming industry members. “Early on, they blessed us with generous donations of fresh meats, eggs, cheese and all types of produce,”
she explained. “Tens of thousands of pounds were received from area casinos, and just when people needed it the most.”
Grisham said casino
employees also pitched in to help SHSM
during its mobile food distributions and other projects.
Others organizations dedicated to feeding those in need in northwest Mississippi include the Mid-South Food Bank, Meals on Wheels and a variety of area churches.
Extra Table, a
nonpro t organization
committed to ending
hunger by providing
food pantries and
soup kitchens with
food needed to
feed the hungry
in their community, also saw cases
of food insecurity grow in 2020.
The organization bene ted from
the generosity of casinos and their employees, said Martha Allen, ExtraTable executive director.
Casino employees across the state load up goods
to deliver to a number of nonpro t organizations. Throughout the pandemic, casinos have continued to make donations to help battle the rising number of families facing food insecurity issues.
“We are so grateful that our partners are willing to step up to support
Extra Table during these times of unprecedented dif culties,” she said, adding casinos offer more than just donations of canned goods and other food items. “Coastal Mississippi casinos support Extra Table in a variety of
ways. Casinos offer volunteer support, promotional and in-kind support, as well as nancial support to Extra Table. The casinos donate food when there is surplus and connect Extra Table with other partners in the industry.”
Food pantries along the Gulf Coast include Loaves & Fishes, Feed My Sheep, the Back Bay Mission and the Seashore Mission. Each has received support and help from area casinos — help that has continued even throughout the past 10 months.
“The casinos are very aware of the impact that they are able to make in their local communities,” Allen said.
Additional efforts made recently by gaming industry members include:
• Clothing and household item collection by employees
• Donations of uniforms, linens and other items that would otherwise be discarded
• Christmas gifts for the elderly and donations for Thanksgiving baskets
• Backpacks, school supplies and Angel Tree gifts for the children
“Given the toll this public health crisis has taken on residents
in the areas we serve, we have intensi ed our efforts to safeguard the health and wellbeing of poor families, especially older adults and children, who lack sustained access to healthy food and adequate nutrition. The casinos in our
service area — and I know around the state — have responded to call and are making a difference in Mississippi,” Grisham said.
— David Grisham contributed to this story
8MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS
WINTER 2021