Vicksburg chefs using donated food from Waterview Casino to feed the elderly

With the abrupt closing of Mississippi’s casinos at midnight last night, Waterview Casino in Vicksburg found itself with surplus food and no more guests to feed.

Instead of throwing the food away, Waterview got in touch with Julie Ford at Caffe Paradiso who put a plan into motion. She would take the food, she said, and use it to feed folks in need in the community.

Ford then recruited Perry Boyd of the Gumbo Pot and  Kevin Roberts of Fit Chef Catering to donate their time to make it happen. The three are in the process of preparing the food now and meals will be ready to distribute around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“Thanks to Kevin and Perry, because I would have never been able to pull this off by myself,” Ford said.

All of the food from Waterview is designated for the elderly and those who are at high risk due to underlying medical conditions. On Monday, the Vicksburg-Warren School District stepped up to ensure children are fed while schools are closed.

It’s not clear on how far the food will go, Boyd said, but they will feed as many people as possible.

“We’re coming together,” Roberts said, adding, “Here in Vicksburg, we can make a difference.”

Tents will be set up in the parking lot on Halls Ferry Road and South Frontage Road to offer folks drive-thru convenience, and plans are underway to provide delivery services. Both Boyd and Roberts have delivery capabilities, Ford said, and Uber drivers are also donating their services.

For more information or to arrange delivery, call 601-634-1590.

Also, see our on-the-scene video on Facebook.