CNE employees donate 300 frozen turkeys to Cherokee Nation for distribution
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – As Thanksgiving approaches, Cherokee Nation Entertainment employees donated 300 frozen turkeys to the Cherokee Nation, which is distributing them to area shelters, soup kitchens and food banks.
“Each year we provide our employees the option to take a turkey home or donate it to those in need,” said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which operates Cherokee Casinos and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. “It’s a tough time for many families, and our employees generously responded by choosing to donate these turkeys to our neighbors, so they too can enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal.”
The Cherokee Nation is distributing the turkeys to area shelters such as Osiyo (a homeless shelter for men in northeast Oklahoma), Help In Crisis, Hope House, Liberty House and Muskogee’s Wish. All remaining turkeys will then be given to area soup kitchens and food banks.
“These turkeys will make an enormous impact on our area shelters that serve people who are going through a tough time,” said Norma Merriman, group leader of the Cherokee Nation. “We are glad to do anything we can help those in need during the holiday season.”
This year, CNE and its employees have supported community nonprofit and municipal agencies with more than $1 million in donations, of which nearly $100,000 has been a part of the Anything Can Happen initiative.