Taking part in a press conference on Friday morning announcing a food drive at Batavia Downs Gaming are, from left, Danielle Fleming, WROTB vice president of Human Resources; Ryan Hasenauer, WROTB vice president of Business Development; Kristina Ettinger, community services manager for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee; Ryan Lasal, director of community programming for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee; Byron Brown, WROTB president/chief executive officer, and Annie Lawrence, WROTB employee benefits coordinator. Photo by Mike Pettinella/For Video News Service.
BY MIKE PETTINELLA
For Video News Service
Staff and patrons of Batavia Downs Gaming are invited to embrace the holiday spirit by contributing to a food drive next week – from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 14 – in partnership with Community Action of Orleans & Genesee County.
Officials of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. and Community Action held a press conference on Friday morning at the Park Road facility to announce the food drive, which actually is starting immediately.
“As we prepare for the holiday season, we must always remember the holiday spirit. The spirit of helping and giving to those who are less fortunate,” said Byron Brown, WROTB president/chief executive officer, as media members and several employees looked on.
Brown said he’s asking customers and residents to drop off nonperishable food items to help those who are in need in the community.
“It’s going to be easy,” he said. “You just drive up next Friday and we will have staff here to help you unload your vehicle.”
He said for those who can’t make it next Friday, bins are being set up in the lobby, starting today.
“We have been very fortunate here at Batavia Downs to get great support from the community and we want to give back to the community,” he said.
Ryan Lasal, director of community programming for Community Action, echoed Brown’s words in stating that the need is greater than ever this year, and thanked Batavia Downs for hosting the food drive.
“We have seen a tremendous increase in our food traffic at our food pantries; we’ve seen a tremendous increase in our sign-ups for our harvest baskets and our holiday baskets – events we are doing – so this event is extremely helpful,” he said. “We’re looking forward to stocking our food pantries.”
Items that are being collected include rice, pasta, boxed macaroni & cheese, instant oatmeal, instant potatoes, canned vegetables, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned fruits, crackers, cereal, granola bars, peanut butter, ramen noodles and other non-perishable food items.
Ryan Hasenauer, vice president of Business Development for WROTB, said the corporation’s initial food drive continues similar initiatives conducted by Batavia Downs, such as turkey donations.
Brown said Batavia Downs employees are supporting the food drive.
“It won’t be totally customer-driven,” he said. “Obviously, we will be asking customers to donate. But many staff members from Batavia Downs are here. Our staff is always extremely generous. In fact, this idea to do this food drive came from staff members.”
For those planning to drop off food on Nov. 14, they are asked to pull up in front of the blue shelter in the main parking lot located directly across the street from the front entrance of Batavia Downs. From there, Batavia Downs employees will help take the donations from vehicles.
The food bins will be located in the lobby through 6 p.m. Nov. 14. For those looking to receive food, please contact Community Action as they will be distributing the food.