‘Turkey Day of Giving’ at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack

WHEELING -- Turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner are on the way to local charitable organizations and first responders courtesy of the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.

A total of 323 frozen turkeys were donated to seven local groups Friday, whose representatives arrived at the track to pick them up for distribution.

The track donated turkeys to the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center in Wheeling, the Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling, Wheeling Health Right, the Wheeling YWCA, and the United Way.

Also receiving turkeys were members of the Wheeling fire and police departments.

Kim Florence, regional president and general manager at the track, explained officials wanted to thank the first responders for all they do for the track throughout the year.

The track has been celebrating the "Turkey Day of Giving" all week. On Thursday, 700 turkeys were given out to guests who accrued enough points on their players' cards.

Another 600 turkeys were presented to track employees, according to Florence. Some employees opted to instead donate their turkeys and add to the number being contributed to charitable organizations.

"It's important to us," Florence said. "We have employees who live here in the community, and want to thank them for the work they do.

"As a company, for us it's about helping those less fortunate. There organizations doing tremendous work, and we are able to help them in their success."

Laura Mendoza at the soup kitchen said the donation of the turkeys to the kitchen lasts beyond Thanksgiving.

"It means a lot," she said. "We will use them for our Thanksgiving lunch (on Wednesday) and for our kids dinner.

"But we will also use them throughout the year to help sustain us."

The track is planning to do a similar giveaway with hams prior to Christmas, according to Florence.

Guests also can participate in the track's "12 Days of Christmas" toy drive. From Dec. 1-12, guests may bring in a new toy valued at least $20 to the Player's Club area, and receive $20 in free play on video machines.

The toys collected will be donated to the Salvation Army, Florence said.