Hollywood Casino donates 1,400 pounds of food to Good Shepherd - Waldo VillageSoup

Friday 31st January 2020

Bangor -- Hollywood Casino is donating nearly 1,400 pounds of food to Good Shepherd Food Bank. The food comes from a holiday sculpture that was constructed around Thanksgiving and on display in the hotel throughout the holidays.

"What we find is that people tend to think of donating food to places, like Good Shepherd Food Bank, more so around the holidays," said Austin Muchemore, general manager at Hollywood Casino in Bangor. "Once the holidays are over, donations tend to decrease because charitable donations are not as 'top-of-mind' with people.

"But there continues to be a significant need for donations during winter months," he said. "There are families making the terribly difficult choice between food and fuel, so we are hopeful that our donation will help provide for those who are in need. We're also hopeful that it raises awareness for others to consider donating, as well."

The holiday sculpture at Hollywood Casino was a snowman constructed by Allison Strange, a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program in intermedia at the University of Maine. This is the 10th year that Hollywood Casino has worked with Strange to construct a piece of art from non-perishable food that would later be disassembled and donated.

"Good Shepherd Food Bank and our area partner agencies are thankful for Hollywood Casino's donation," said Melissa Huston, major gift officer at the food bank. "We are always grateful for anyone willing to donate foods, funds, and their time to fight food insecurity in Maine. There are so many ways to help out after the holiday season; hunger is 365 days a year, and we usually see a decrease in donations and volunteering during the first few months of the new year."

Hollywood Casino donated more than 1,800 small cans and 120 family-sized cans of Campbell's soup, which made up the bulk of the snowman sculpture. Other non-perishable donated items include two cases of coffee packets, which were used to create a scarf for the snowman, and some dark chocolate packets that created the snowman's "coal."