Hats off to the Tower Area Food Shelf!

September 30, 2021

Fortune Bay Resort Casino was pleased to partner with the Tower Area Food Shelf as its most recent Ticket In Ticket Out promotional spotlight.

“We’re very, very grateful for this contribution,” said Tower Area Food Shelf Volunteer Marge McPeak as she held up a check for $1,639.84 with fellow volunteers Kay and Richard Hanson. “Things like this really help out in our efforts to serve our community." 

The Ticket In Ticket Out Promotion has been an ongoing event at Fortune Bay Resort Casino whereby players put their casino ticket or tickets into a drawing drum designated for a worthy cause in our service area. The most recent awardees have been Ruby’s Pantry in Cook and the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota. Once the time period ends, Fortune Bay then adds $500 to the final tally.

“We have certain things that we don’t get through the government, so we have to purchase things ourselves,” said McPeak as she gave a tour of the food shelf, which is located in the basement of The Timberjay newspaper. “We used some money to buy these new shelves—they look a lot better than what we had in the past.”

Fortune Bay’s Brian K. Anderson was impressed with the fresh look of the Tower Area Food Shelf.

“The volunteers have done a great job organizing the food shelf,” said Anderson. “Marge, along with the other volunteers like Kay and Richard Hanson, are very passionate about their volunteer duties. They take pride in the work they do and care about the communities they serve.”

Although the food shelf is only open on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, McPeak has made exceptions and has gone out of her way to help those in need. She said she probably comes down once a week to assist a family who is running low on food. In the old days, the food was packaged up and people may have gotten items they didn’t particularly care for.

“Now, we have boxes where people can fill it up with what they like to eat,” said McPeak, who is 86 years old, but doesn’t see herself retiring anytime soon. 

McPeak said there have even been times where she has made house calls in an emergency. 

“There was a lady who was quarantined and couldn’t come out due to her testing positive for COVID,” said McPeak. “So, I packaged up a box of items she wanted, drove it over to her apartment, and left it outside her door. She really appreciated the efforts.”

McPeak said she has formed many great relationships in her lengthy volunteer service to the Tower Area Food Shelf.

“I know a lot of these people by their first names,” she said. “I’m proud to help out my community, even though my kids tell me they would like me to retire and move closer to them. However, I’m not ready to move yet.”

After all, McPeak has her longtime customers to take care of and that is an area she excels in.

“I enjoy this work,” said McPeak, who came in on her off day for the check presentation. “I look forward to seeing these people as some have been coming here for 8 to 10 years and we’re glad to help them out.”

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