“This campaign is about more than just donations—it’s about community,” says Chris Dunning, Surveillance Manager at Gateway Casino. “Seeing our staff and patrons come together to support Thunder Bay Counselling and the people they serve is incredibly rewarding. We’re proud to help bridge the gap for those in need in our community, and I’m so grateful to everyone who supported the initiative through donations and fundraising activities.”
The Bridge the Gap Campaign is designed to support individuals and families as they navigate life’s transitions—whether it’s bridging the gap from youth to adulthood, between paychecks, or a transition to exiting a stressful living situation. For the second consecutive year, Gateway Casino selected Thunder Bay Counselling as the campaign’s charitable partner.
Throughout the month of May, the casino hosted a variety of fundraising events, including:
- Metro Tag Days
- Bake Sale and Banana Bread Sales
- Dress Down Days
- Patron Contribution and Reward Program
- Department Food Drive Competition
The casino also organized a $500 prize draw for patrons who donated food items to the initiative.
These efforts culminated in a total of $4,000, along with hundreds of donated items. In under three hours, Thunder Bay Counselling and casino staff worked together to sort, bag, and distribute food to 217 individuals in the community yesterday afternoon.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity and compassion shown by Gateway Casino Thunder Bay and their team,” says Nancy Chamberlain, CEO at Thunder Bay Counselling. “Our frontline staff meet with service users every day who are experiencing mental health challenges, many of whom face barriers to accessing basic needs like food and hygiene products. Thanks to the combined efforts of Gateway Casino and Thunder Bay Counselling staff, we were able to provide immediate support to hundreds of people in the community who may be struggling. This kind of partnership is what community care looks like.”