By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Thursday, January 05, 2006

NEWS RELEASE

KEWADIN CASINO

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Kewadin donates furniture to victims of Hurricane Katrina

Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The America United Campaign, started by the Iron Mountain Police Department, received a semi full of furniture from 25 Kewadin Casino hotel rooms that will soon be renovated.

Items include mattresses, box springs, dressers, night stands, photos, lamps, mirrors and bedspreads.

The shipment will be delivered to the Habitat for Humanity group in Covington, Louisiana to help victims of Hurricane Katrina rebuild their homes.

Nearly twenty volunteers from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, Chippewa County Sheriff Department, the First Church of Christ, Weir Furniture, Habitat for Humanity and Kewadin Casinos helped load the abundance of furniture.

The America United Campaign is a nonprofit organization developed after the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001 as a way for Upper Peninsula police departments to contribute and get involved with efforts to support fellow citizens.

"Local law enforcement agencies throughout the Upper Peninsula have supported the American United Campaign since it started in 2001," said Detective Sergeant Judd Price of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Department.

Most recently, the campaign held a canned food drive after the affects of Hurricane Katrina were realized shipping tons of food to the devastated area.

This was the first time since 2001 that the operation had been reactivated.

"The campaign has really turned into a community effort across the UP," said Price. "It's not just law enforcement agencies anymore, it's local churches, nonprofit groups, and Habitat for Humanity organizations helping to make the campaign a success."

"We're glad to help out in any way we can to support campaigns like this one," said Casino General Manager Steve Sprecker. "It's all about community and being involved to help your neighbor, even if they're across the country."

The total donation value to the American United Campaign is $50,000.

In 2005, Kewadin donated over $60,000 to support local benefits, donations and related activities.

In this photo, volunteers take a break from loading hotel room furniture into the American United Campaign semi-truck this week.

Shown are Reid Desrochers and Bob Smith from the First Church of Christ; Wyatt Curry, Habitat for Humanity; Dave Adams, Weir Furniture, and Jon Miller, Kewadin Casinos.

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