Southwest RivCo Veterans Receive Kindness Kits From Pechanga Workers

TEMECULA, CA — What do tubs of toothpaste, razors and soaps have to do with kindness? A lot, according to volunteers from Pechanga Resort Casino.

For two hours on a recent Friday afternoon, 30 Pechanga volunteers took time out of their work schedules and met in an empty resort ballroom to do some good for others. Clad in their teal Caring on Another Level Pechanga t-shirts, they formed assembly lines to load up kits with disposable razors, shaving cream, new socks, toothpaste and other hygiene items.

Their goal was to pack 450 much-needed hygiene kits to be distributed to veterans in need by U.S.Vets in Riverside and Inglewood over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Nicholas Salazar, Marketing Production Supervisor & U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, spoke on the project.

"I take a lot of pride in the fact I served and for a lot of veterans, their lives are committed to service. To be of service to some veterans, brothers and sisters, who could use the help, I'm really proud to have that opportunity," Salazar said. "Pechanga gives us the chance to give back to the veteran community and that's special."

Before the packing party began, Pechanga Team Members were encouraged to write a note of gratitude to a veteran. Team Members collected the letters and put at least one in each hygiene kit.

Pechanga often partners with U.S. vets to further its mission of helping homeless vets gain residential stability, increase their skill levels and income, and achieve a greater level of self-determination.