Many gamblers who have paid a visit to RimRock Casino in Port Alberni, B.C. have probably forgotten or lost some change or lottery tickets at the venue. However, it has not gone to waste. The casino collects all forgotten change and slips as donations and thanks to its guests, it will be now giving away thousands of dollars to local charity organizations.
This is the first time in three years that the casino which was previously known as Chances Casino RimRock has done it. This is due to the fact that similar to any other British Columbia gaming property it had to suspend operations in March 2020 before reopening in July 2021. And finally, enough money has been accumulated to give it away to the community.
Making a Difference
Shift manager at the Port Alberni gaming amenity, Sherrill Taylor discussed how many patrons cash out with few cents remaining and leave it at the venue. In her words, the casino accumulates the slips left behind by players to a degree that the amount reaches thousands of Canadian dollars. The recent portion of it will be donated and split between three organizations.
Ms. Taylor said that sometimes players forget TITO tickets or change on the floor and those are collected in a big bucket for a donation. They call the stash the accumulated found money donations. Now, the casino has given away the money to three Alberni Valley charities – Abbeyfield House, the Salvation Army, and Kiwanis Hilton Childrenās Centre.
Abbeyfield Houseās portion of the sizeable donation is more than CA$3,600. According to a board member of the organization, Rosemarie Buchanan, the money will most likely be used for a project proposed by a local. Marjorie Jarrett, who is also a board member, said that the funds will come in handy for the development of residentsā activities.
Meanwhile, the Kiwanis Hilton Childrenās Centre has received CA$1,730, which will go toward the maintenance and repair of the childrenās centre. Hilton Centre and Alberni Valley Childcare Society executive director Julie Spencer said that the money will be used to replace a floor in the front foyer area. And lastly, the Salvation Army received a portion of the money, but the amount remained undisclosed.
The Importance of B.C. Gaming Amenities
Usually, many charity groups and organizations and even city coffers rely on gambling funds to support their operations. For instance, a while back Casino Nanaimo located on Vancouver Island has reported that thanks to its signature PROUD program it has managed to provide over CA$3.6 million in support to over 126 non-profit organizations for 2018 alone.
Chances Casino Abbotsford is also a proud supporter of many local businesses and organizations. One of the many examples of this is back from 2019, when the casino hosted a food bank fundraising event. This was the eight annual event from the property, and managed to provide a considerable support to the Archway Food Bank of Abbotsford. It even exceeded expectations as it shattered previous record for accumulated proceeds.
Source: Quinn, Susie āāFound moneyā at RimRock Casino in Port Alberni helps local charitiesā, Alberni Valley News, June 24, 2024
