YR - YONKERS RACEWAY EMPLOYEES, HORSEMEN TO ASSIST FOOD BANK FOR WESTCHESTER

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Wednesday, August 15, 2012--Yonkers Raceway employees and its horsemen are teaming up with the Food Bank for Westchester to help those in need.

Next Tuesday (Aug. 21), dozens of Raceway/Empire City employees, along with drivers Jason Bartlett, Brent Holland and Jordan Stratton, shall visit the Food Bank's warehouse in Elmsford, located about 20 minutes north of Yonkers.

 The Food Bank's staff is hosting a tour, then putting their eager visitors to work packaging food to be distributed countywide. The event is scheduled from 1-3 PM.

 The Raceway and its horsemen have also pledged a $1,000 donation to the Food Bank.

 "We're only too happy to help such a worthwhile cause," general manager Bob Galterio said. "Having our employees and best-known drivers volunteer their time makes it that much better."

 The Food Bank for Westchester, one of eight food banks in New York State, is the backbone of the county’s emergency food network. It acquires, warehouses and distributes more than seven million pounds of food annually to over 220 frontline hunger-relief organizations. Those organizations include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care and residential programs.

 “We’re delighted to have Yonkers Raceway’s support, both by volunteering and with their generous donation,” Rick Rakow, Food Bank Chairman of the Board and president of Rakow Commercial Realty Group, said.

In early 2012, the Food Bank moved to a larger facility (200 Clearbrook Road in Elmsford), to get more food out to more of the estimated 200,000 people in Westchester who are hungry or at risk of hunger. The Food Bank’s mission is to lead, engage and educate Westchester County residents in creating a hunger-free environment.

For more information, contact the Food Bank (914-923-1100), or visit them on-line at www.foodbankforwestchester.org.