In the United States, Thanksgiving is a holiday where we look forward to spending time with family, enjoying a good meal and giving thanks for all of our many blessings. For many families though, the resources required for a holiday spread can be difficult to come by. In addition to year-round charity work, the gaming community is known for giving back during the holidays. And in the state of Indiana, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians have for the fourth consecutive year donated thousands of pounds of food, with volunteers helping to pass it out on Tuesday at the Northern Indiana Food Bank.

Thanksgiving meals will be made possible in some South Bend communities this week thanks to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, owner of the $400 million Four Winds Casino South Bend currently under construction and slated to open as early as January.  According to WNDU.com, over 30 volunteers were at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana on Tuesday handing out turkeys, cranberry sauce, potatoes and all the trimmings to members of the community in need.

In the South Bend region alone, Four Winds was reportedly able to distribute 330 food baskets, making it possible for a lot of people who would go without this Thanksgiving to instead have full bellies. Four Winds Casino South Bend Vice President, Scott Brewer, commented on the food distribution efforts by stating that they plan on feeding over 1,000 people in the region. The donations were split between several counties including St. Joe, Cass, Elkhart, Berrien and Laporte.

In addition to the Thanksgiving food drive, the Pokagon Band Tribe held grand opening and flag raising ceremonies on Monday to commemorate the new tribal police substation that will serve the site where the new casino and tribal village will be located.