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Delaware North gets in the holiday spirit of giving

The holiday season is in full swing, and for Delaware North and its 60,000 associates around the globe, the spirit of giving and providing joy through world-class hospitality is as strong as ever. 

Delaware North food donation to Buffalo mission helps provide holiday meals for thousands
 
chicken-5303791More than 5,000 Western New York residents in need have been able to enjoy a complete meal this holiday season thanks in large part to a major donation from Delaware North to Saint Luke’s Mission of Mercy in Delaware North’s hometown of Buffalo, N.Y.
 
Delaware North, as part of the company’s annual Food & Beverage Summit in November in Buffalo, worked with supplier Tyson Foods to provide the mission with 16,300 pounds of chicken, or about 5,500 chickens delivered in 290 cases. The chickens are included in hundreds of food baskets the mission puts together for families in need during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“We would never be able to pay for all of the chicken we need, so this donation from Delaware North is a true blessing,” said Amy Betros, co-founder and co-director of Saint Luke’s Mission of Mercy. 

Airport teams give back with free holiday meals for the military

It’s the season of giving, and many of Delaware North’s airport teams are getting in the spirit by spreading holiday cheer to the armed forces. To show appreciation for the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, several Delaware North-operated units are providing free meals on either Christmas Day or New Year’s Day as military members travel through airports around the country.

“We want to take time this holiday season to say thank you to the brave men and women who keep us safe around the world,” said Kevin Kelly, president of Delaware North’s travel business. “Our teams take pride in being able to give back to those in the armed forces by serving them a great meal as they travel home to visit loved ones.”

Read more about this initiative and participating airports.

Melbourne & Olympic Parks team collects and donates gifts in ‘UberSLEIGH’ initiative
 
uber1-7905810When ridesharing company Uber’s “UberSLEIGH” arrived, there was a pile of gifts awaiting pickup, thanks to Delaware North’s team at Melbourne & Olympic Parks, home of the Australian Open.
 
The “UberSLEIGH” initiative involved Uber drivers collecting gifts in major cities throughout Australia to donate to the Red Cross, Starlight Foundation and various children’s hospitals. The Delaware North team – led by General Manager Matthew Forsyth, who is pictured in the blue blazer – donated more than 40 gifts, including boogie boards and children’s books. 

Hamburg Gaming gives back to Western New York
 
Associates from the Delaware North-operated Hamburg Gaming, near Buffalo, N.Y., continued an annual tradition of making a difference in the community by donating resources during the holiday season.

A group from the gaming venue braved the cold this week and volunteered with The Salvation Army of Buffalo to feed the homeless and give out care packages that included winter gloves and socks. Additionally, Hamburg Gaming sponsored a local family in need to provide a holiday meal and purchase items on its wish list. The effort was also in partnership with the local chapter of The Salvation Army. 

A little snow never stopped Santa
 
sony-dscSanta doesn’t hunker down for winter storms – which is why it was hardly a surprise that he braved the snowy conditions on Dec. 17 to participate in Honey Creek Resort’s holiday celebration.
 
The lodging property, which Delaware North operates for Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources, had a full house for its day of holiday-centric festivities – including visiting with “Santa,” an elf-on-the-shelf scavenger hunt, a tree-lighting ceremony, dinner and a Christmas movie in the grand ballroom. 
 
Guests and associates also participated in Operation Santa, an effort that involves leaving an unwrapped gift and/or cold-weather clothing such as gloves or mittens for families in need from the nearby communities. 

New Orleans team returns to local shelter to help needy
 
Delaware North’s team at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport last week returned to one of the city’s homeless shelters to spread some holiday cheer. Led by General Manager Sayed Mekhemar and Executive Chef Nick Catlett, the team went to Ozanam Inn to cook and serve a special meal – just as it did this past summer.

Catlett and the team cooked a meal of roasted turkey, a rice dressing, honey-baked ham, green beans, dinner rolls and a Greek salad. Over the course of the evening, they were able to serve more than 180 people at the shelter.

Minnesota Sportservice goes all in on ‘30 Days of Giving’
 
minnyphoto-6457082The Delaware North Sportservice team at Target Field in Minneapolis decided to spread its charitable efforts far and wide this holiday season – recently wrapping up a “30 Days of Giving” event by donating items to four local charities.
 
The unit’s in-house philanthropy group, Activities Promoting Community and Team Connections (A.C.T.), collected toys for Toys for Tots, everyday items for a local homeless shelter, and food for a community food shelf.
 
With help from the Minnesota Twins, items came pouring in and exceeded expectations. In all, 116 toys were presented to the U.S. Marine Corps’ toy drive. Items such as blankets, towels, hats, gloves, diapers, air mattresses and other household products all went to People Serving People (PSP), the largest and most comprehensive, family-focused homeless shelter in Minnesota. Finally, A.C.T. donated 313 pounds – nearly doubling last year’s effort of 160 pounds – to the food shelf at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, which supports impoverished neighborhoods. The effort will help feed at least 12 families in need.