atlanticcitynj.com
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
When Shel Silverstein wrote his children's book, The Giving Tree, he was offering a simple message that even though you may feel alone, someone is always there for you.
Three local women are putting that moral into action during the statewide coronavirus shutdown that shuttered the Atlantic City casinos, putting 16,000 employees out of work.
Haunted by photos and news videos of nearly 1,500 laid off casino workers standing in line at the old Shore Mall on Wednesday to get boxes of donated food, they instinctively knew that there are many, many others who are out of work and in need due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The food giveaway at the Harbor Square shopping center was sponsored by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Southern Branch and Unite Here Local 54. Three tractor-trailers filled with non-perishable and fresh foods rolled into the parking lot to unload food kits to those waiting in a mile-long line.
Christina Murnane Rubenstein of Margate, Kathryn Francis of Ventnor and Holly Kisby of Ocean City held a brainstorming session later that day on Facebook and Messenger to come up with ideas on what they could do to help them and others who are still waiting to receive their unemployment checks.
There are so many others who are out of work who would never ask for help, but there are so many of us who can help fill their need, and we can do it fairly anonymously, Rubenstein said.
The result of that remote meeting was to match those in need with those willing to help.
The next day, they started the Casino Family Food Giving Tree Facebook page, and shared it to other Facebook community groups. The community outreach effort to find those who need assistance feeding their families attracted others offering to contribute food, money or gift cards.
It was overwhelming to see how many people wanted to help. We already have about 100 people who are anxious to help out, Rubenstein said. I already have about 50 giving families on my personal Facebook page and a handful of requests for help.
Anyone who needs food can go to the Casino Family Food Giving Tree page and fill out a request form. The women will match the request with a donor who is close-by.
The giving families will either buy groceries or a grocery gift card and send it directly to the family, she said. We are just facilitators. Now we are trying to get the word out.
Any casino family in the Downbeach and Mainland areas, and Ocean City can make a request, but no one will be turned away, Rubenstein said.
Giving families can sign up by clicking the Giving Family graphic on the Facebook page and provide their hometown.
The women would prefer that giving families purchase gift cards to area supermarkets so the casino families can purchase what they want. The gift cards can be dropped off at Rubenstein's home or sent directly to the family.
We can even accommodate food deliveries by providing transportation, but it would be a lot easier to purchase gift cards, she said.
The Casino Family Food Giving Tree is just one of the ways the community at large has stepped up to help their South Jersey neighbors.
It all about neighbors helping neighbors through a difficult time, she said.
For more information, see Casino Family Food Giving Tree on Facebook. Or text only (no phone calls) to 609-576-0376.
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