Kiosks at Jake's 58 allow bettors to donate winnings to help Ukraine

Oksana Khlopas of Kings Park said family and friends in her native Ukraine have described scenes of unimaginable horror in recent weeks.

That's why Khlopas, 35, who moved to the United States with her parents when she was a teenager, was happy to learn Tuesday that Suffolk County Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. is helping bettors at Jake's 58 Casino Hotel in Islandia donate to a program run by her employer, Northwell Health, that will send medical supplies to her home country.

"I see the videos, the footage, and I’m thinking every time I see that, I think it could have been me and my family in that position now,” Khlopas, who works in the hospital chain's pharmacy department, told Newsday. “There’s sirens going off almost every day. ... They usually run to the basement for the shelters.”

The Jake's 58 fundraising effort is the latest campaign by Long Islanders who have been moved by stories and images of the devastation wrought by Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Suffolk OTB president Tony Pancella said OTB, which owns and operates Jake's 58, had altered a cash-dispensing system to help customers make donations to the Northwell Health program.

He said the system works like those seen in supermarkets that let customers donate their change to charity. When Jake's 58 bettors go to collect their winnings, they'll be given the option to donate small change — say, 22 cents — to the program.

Pancella said OTB also donated $10,000 to the effort.

“With the money we raise, we’ll be able to at least double our initial $10,000 donation or even triple it,” he told Newsday. 

The technology had been installed in the kiosks earlier this year for other charities, Pancella said. 

Switching the system to support Ukraine was a natural response for the agency, which includes staff and customers with ties to the nation.

“People started talking about this on TV every day [and seeing] the horrors," Pancella said.

Legis. Kevin McCaffrey, presiding officer of the Suffolk Legislature, said OTB's program might help persuade other companies to provide help.

“It also inspires other entities and other organizations to raise money for this sort of a cause.  … The money we’re raising, it’s substantial, but we want it to grow even more,” said McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst). “It makes us all want to work harder to provide whatever we need to do. All of us need to continue to do more.”

Khlopas said Ukrainians are grateful for all donations, even what she called "silly things" like deodorant and toothbrushes.

“People come up to me and say they’re praying for my country and praying for peace in my home country,” she said. “It’s very heartwarming to see that people care.”

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.