Chances Playtime Gaming in Abbotsford donated more than $2,100 to the Abbotsford Food Bank on Friday and kicked off a food collection campaign.
The funds were raised during the location’s Canada Day barbecue.
The site is also among Gateway Casinos and Entertainment locations across western Canada that are participating in the One Bag Challenge, which invites employees and customers to drop off one bag of non-perishable food.
Each person is then invited to challenge five other people to do the same thing.
The campaign is based on one launched this summer by Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran, who started it for the Central Okanagan Food Bank.
As of Friday, the Abbotsford Chances had already collected about 200 pounds of food from its Canada Day barbecue and from the start of the One Bag Challenge.
Jim Brenner, facility manager at Chances Abbotsford, said bags of food can be dropped off at the gaming centre – located at 30835 Peardonville Rd. – between 10 a.m. and 1 a.m. daily.
Dave Murray, manager of the Abbotsford Food Bank, said summer is a slow time of year, with about 80 per cent of food and cash donations coming in during the Christmas season.
“It’s tremendous,” he said of Chances’ contribution. “Anything in the summer is a bonus. It really helps us a lot.”
For more information on the items most needed at the food bank, visit abbotsfordfoodbank.com or call 604-859-5749.