Bingo! : Bella Vista church to offer game for charity fundraising
BELLA VISTA - A new game in town may add excitement to the act of giving to charity. Members of the St. Bernard of Clairveaux Catholic Church in Bella Vista will soon be calling bingo numbers in an attempt to raise money for area nonprofits.
The St. Bernard men's and women's clubs have united with the local Knights of Columbus to provide games twice a month at the church's Parish Hall at 1 St. Bernard Lane.
The first series of games will begin at 6: 30 p.m. Jan. 10, with doors opening at 5: 45 p. m., according to Tommy Freytag, a church member who helped organize the event. A second set of games will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 15, with doors opening at 1: 15 p. m., he said.
After January, the games will be held at 6: 30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month and at 2 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month, Freytag said.
The game comes after Arkansas voters approved Amendment 84 to the state constitution in 2006. The amendment allows using raffles and bingo for charitable purposes, according to John Theis, assistant commissioner of revenue for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration.
The method of using charitable bingo for fundraising purposes of nonprofits subsequently became legal July 31 after supporting legislation was put into place, he said.
There is no limit on how many organizations can host charitable raffles or bingo games in an area, but the law is specific on which type of entity may host the games and for which purposes, Theis said.
Eligible groups include "religious, educational, veterans, fraternal, service, civic, medical, volunteer rescue service, volunteer firefighters organization or volunteer police organization that has been in continuing existence as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization in this state for a period of not less than five years immediately prior to conducting the game of bingo or raffles," the policy states.
To find out more about the guidelines on conducting charitable bingo or raffles, visit www. arkansas. gov / dfa.
Players at the bingo sessions in Bella Vista have the option of purchasing three different packs of cards, Freytag said. The main game will be played with a pack of 10 cards, with each card containing six faces, he said. Players can purchase these packs for $ 15, he said.
In between the main games, players can participate in side games by purchasing a pack of five cards, each with three faces, for $ 5, he said. Payouts will be given in cash at the end of each side and main game, he said. The size of the payout depends on participation.
There will also be one "blackout"game conducted at every session, he said. Players can purchase a blackout card for $ 2 and try to cover the entire card for a cash prize ranging in size from $ 250 to $ 500.
Only a certain amount of numbers will be called during the blackout games, and the pot is progressive, Freytag said. When the total hits $ 500, numbers will be called until there is a winner, he said. The afternoon and evening games will have independent blackout pots, he noted.
Refreshments and bingo supplies will also be sold during the events, he said. The money raised by the games will be donated to organizations such as the Bella Vista Courtesy Van, the Boys and Girls Club in Bella Vista and the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, Freytag said.
Some of the proceeds will cover the cost of hosting the events and will benefit the church's community outreach programs, he added. To find out more, call the church at 855-9069.
Players must be at least 18 years old.
Written by Jason Beatty Staff Writer
