Casino Provides Those in Need With Thanksgiving Turkeys With All The Trimmings
Posted on: November 19, 2025, 07:27h.
Last updated on: November 19, 2025, 07:27h.
- Rivers Casino Portsmouth handed out 500 Thanksgiving meals
- The event supported those in need and federal government workers
- Norfolk’s newly opened casino donated to the local food bank
Reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving came early for about 500 needy families in Virginia’s Hampton Roads region, as Rivers Portsmouth Casino handed out holiday meals with all of the trimmings.
Rivers Casino, the first permanent slot machine and table game facility to open in the commonwealth, has been a steadfast community partner since it took its first bets back in January 2023.
On Saturday, people lined up to receive free frozen turkeys along with traditional southern fixings like stuffing, canned peas, boxed macaroni and cheese, and cornbread mix.
Organized by Portsmouth Councilman Vernon Tillage Jr. and hosted and funded by Rivers Casino Portsmouth, the Thanksgiving Vibes Turkey Giveaway helped families strained by the economy, recent federal government shutdown, or other financial stresses celebrate next week.
Government Workers Get First Dibs
The recipients of the Thanksgiving holiday meals needed to preregister and inform Tillage’s office of their financial hardship. The councilman said he prioritized people affected by the 43-day federal government shutdown.
I’ve had so many families over the last two weeks call to say they were out of a paycheck,” Tillage told The Virginian-Pilot.
Portsmouth and neighboring Norfolk are home to a large concentration of federal workers due to the Navy’s Norfolk base, which remains the world’s largest naval base. Naval Station Norfolk is the headquarters and home port of the US Navy’s Fleet Forces Command.
There are about 85K active-duty service members and 60K civilian federal employees in the region.
Tillage said the Thanksgiving Vibes Turkey Giveaway was coordinated with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Rivers Portsmouth paid the food bank about $7,500 for the 500 holiday meals.
Norfolk Casino Benefits Food Bank
The Interim Gaming Hall, the temporary casino adjacent to Norfolk’s Harbor Park while Boyd Gaming builds a $750 million permanent casino resort, donated its opening day gaming revenue to the Southeastern Virginia Foodbank.
Officials with Boyd and its local partner, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, said the 7,200-square-foot pavilion tent that’s equipped with 132 slot machines but no table games or sports betting generated $92,297.77 on Nov. 7.
Food insecurity is a pressing challenge for too many families, and the Foodbank is working hard to ensure that fewer local residents are going to bed hungry,” said Ron Bailey, vice president and general manager of The Interim Gaming Hall. “Supporting organizations that directly impact the lives of our neighbors is at the heart of who we are, and we’re honored to help the Foodbank continue its vital mission.”
An official with the food bank said the financial contribution “will have an immediate and profound impact” on the organization’s mission to serve families facing hunger throughout the region.
“We are deeply grateful,” the Southeastern Virginia Foodbank said.
In its Thanksgiving meal forecast, financial analysts at Wells Fargo say a traditional holiday meal in 2025 will cost about $80 for 10 people at store-brand-name prices, and about $100 for national brand products.
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