Leftover Atlantis buffet food headed toward dinner plates for homeless youth at Eddy House

Each day this month, teams will transport warming containers filled with food that would otherwise be tossed out from the Atlantis casino’s Toucan Charlie’s buffet to the Eddy House.

It’s part of a new partnership between the Atlantis; the Eddy House, a nonpartisan helping young people who are homeless; and PowerHouse Data Centers, which brought the two together as part of its efforts to support sustainability in the community.

Each pickup involves transporting 30 trays of food and returning clean trays from the previous meal. The food program is expected to provide 18,200 meals annually, saving Eddy House more than $80,000 a year. Those funds can then be redirected toward other programs to help at-risk youth.

Trevor Macaluso, CEO of Eddy House, called the partnership transformational.

“By providing consistent, high-quality meals, we are not only reducing food insecurity, but also freeing up critical resources that allow us to expand our programs and services,” he said in a statement. “It’s a win-win for all involved.”

In January, the Atlantis started providing Eddy House with food trays to supplement existing meal donations. This month, the Atlantis food will be used for every dinner at the Eddy House, with existing meal donors transitioning to contributing lunches.

The buffet food is transported in warming trays in order to follow health district regulations. The effort is exempt under Northern Nevada Public Health food establishment regulations; however, the health district provided guidance to help maintain food safety protocols.

“At the Atlantis, we are committed to supporting our community and reducing food waste,” said Chira Pagidi, corporate director of food and beverage for Monarch Casino & Resort. “Partnering with Eddy House allows us to make a meaningful impact by ensuring that excess food goes to those who need it most in northern Nevada.”