In a city where thousands of residents already lack access to healthy food, the mass closing of businesses and schools due to concerns about COVID-19 left many wondering where their next meal would come from.
When Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that the city’s nine casinos would be shutting down indefinitely, the gambling parlors realized they had tons of food, literally, that could go to waste. Less than 12 hours after they closed their doors to gamblers, the casinos were donating pallets of fresh and packaged food to the region’s food banks, community centers and social service agencies.
All nine of the city’s casinos — Bally’s Atlantic City, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, Ocean Casino Resort, Resorts Casino Hotel and Tropicana Atlantic City — have been making deliveries or arranging pickups since Tuesday morning.
Organizations such as the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch, Turning Point Day Center for the Homeless, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, the Salvation Army and the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City have received food donations from the casinos, allowing each of them to serve those in need.