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DOWAGIAC — The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi have donated nine pallets of food totaling 7,450 pounds from its Four Winds Casino locations. The donation will be distributed to those in need throughout southwest Michigan and northern Indiana by Feeding America and Cultivate. 

This donation follows the Pokagon Gaming Authority’s decision to close all of its Four Winds Casino locations in Michigan and Indiana on Tuesday to help prevent the spread and minimize the potential impact of the coronavirus. The food items that were part of the donation included dairy products, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, baked goods and fresh fish.   

“Given the recent closure of our casino locations and the uncertainty of the evolving Coronavirus situation, we felt compelled to donate these unused foods items as soon as possible so they could be used by community members in need,” said Matthew Wesaw, tribal chairman of the Pokagon Band.  “We hope it will bring comfort to recipients during this challenging time.”

“Through the generosity of the Pokagon Band and the Pokagon Gaming Authority, the nine pallets of food have already been received by Feeding America in Benton Harbor and Cultivate in South Bend.  Four Winds Casinos is proud to support our community partners and our employees are honored to have helped organize this donation,” added Frank Freedman, COO of Four Winds Casinos.

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S.  Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, the organization provides meals to more than 40 million people each year.  Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people they serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.  More information on Feeding America can be found at feedingamerica.org. 

Cultivate is devoted to ending the cycle of hunger in the local communities of northern Indiana by providing a food rescue service, officials said. Its mission is to build a local network of food suppliers with the goal of providing wholesome meals so no one in our community goes hungry.  More information on Cultivate can be found at cultivateculinary.com.