AUSTINTOWN — Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course’s food and beverage team recently prepared meals for St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital’s intensive care unit and COVID-19 team.

The racino operation wanted to show appreciation this week for the hospital team’s commitment to the community. In addition to the meal, a gift was given to each member for the holidays.

Additionally, guests made donations at the racino to benefit Gleaners Food Bank and a check for $3,841 was donated this week. Gleaners Food Bank was established in 1986 and is in on Pyatt Street near downtown Youngstown.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our team and the community as the outpouring of support during truly challenging times was incredible,” said Allie Evangelista, vice president and general manager of Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley. “We are delighted to be a part of this great community and glad we could do our part to make a difficult holiday season just a little brighter.”

The giving season kicked off at Hollywood Gaming when the executive team handed out turkeys for Thanksgiving to all team members, a tradition that began in 2019. This year the team provided nearly 300 turkeys.

Team members gave back by participating in a holiday basket raffle with all proceeds donated to Relay For Life. Also, team members participated in the Giving Tree event that benefitted the Sojourner House, a domestic violence shelter in the Brier Hill neighborhood of Youngstown. They donated toys to help the mothers and children of six families. In addition, they had Holidays with My Gnomies to help 14 children of its own team members in need.

Guests pitched in as the property partnered with Toys for Tots to collect nearly 2,500 toys to help local families during the holidays. Patrons who donated a toy received a scratch-off card with prizes up to $5,000 Free Play. In total, the property gave away just under $20,000 in Free Play.

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