Featured photo: Pictured in the Aquarius loading dock from left: Dana Kissinger, Vice President, Casino Operations; Lyla Norris-Garcia, volunteer; Sheree Norris, BCSD homeless liaison; Nelia Martinez, Director, Table Games; Houston Slater, Warehouse Operations Lead Receiver; Elizabeth Lara, CRUHSD homeless liaison; Diana Kagley, Vice President, Hotel Operations; Janet Gagnon, Marketing Specialist; Cris Robinson, Senior Director, Marketing; Derrik Welsh, Financial Planning Analyst.
LAUGHLIN / BULLHEAD CITY – Dozens of students and their families in the Bullhead City School District (BCSD) again had traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, following donations by the Aquarius and Edgewater Casino Resorts in Laughlin, Hope United Methodist Church in Bullhead City, and the Bullhead City Lions Club.
Golden Entertainment’s Aquarius/Edgewater “Feed A Family” program provided 116 ham meals with trimmings from side dishes to dessert for homeless BCSD students and their families for the two holidays. BCSD also received nine complete meals from Hope UMC and six from the Lions Club. BCSD again helped arrange another 110 meals from the Aquarius/Edgewater for the homeless program within the Colorado River Union High School District (CRUHSD), as many families have students in both districts.
Now in its fourteenth year, “Feed A Family” is a collaborative effort of Aquarius and Edgewater employees, players donating their Golden Entertainment True Rewards points, community contributions and silent auctions. Thousands of families have been fed since the program started.
“Supporting the Feed a Family program is an honor for us,” said Jeremy Jenson, senior vice president and general manager of the Aquarius and Edgewater Casino Resorts. “We believe no family should go without a warm meal, especially during the holidays. We’re grateful to be able to give back to the community that supports us every day.”
“Feed a Family” has again assisted more than one dozen non-profit and charitable programs, food banks and organizations throughout the Colorado River Valley and Tri-State area over the fall and winter with hundreds of meals.
Tri-State area student homelessness has many causes: a parent losing a job, domestic abuse, blended family tensions, children thrown out of the house because of sexual orientation, financial crises and other factors. Some families share homes with relatives; others are in temporary housing, while others are living in vehicles or on the streets.
Student homelessness is defined under the federal McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, enacted by Congress and signed by Pres. Ronald Reagan. At any given time, 50 to 200+ students can be legally homeless between BCSD and CRUHSD, because of overlapping family enrollments. Other area public and public charter schools also have students without permanent housing.
BCSD continues to accept cash and in-kind donations for programs helping homeless students, plus new and gently used clothing for year-around ongoing needs as well as holidays. Additional information is available from BCSD parent liaison Sheree Norris at 928-758-3961, x-1026.
