To raise money for Summerside and Tyne Valley food banks

ABRAM-VILLAGE – Oct. 10, 2018 – The extremely popular family-oriented Mega-Bingo, organized for a first time last fall, is returning with a bang this Sunday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. Bingo players will get to share more than $4,000 worth of merchandise, gift cards and cash during the event’s 15 afternoon games, taking place at the Evangeline School cafeteria in Abram-Village.

In 2017, about 120 people had come out to play. The bilingual event, which offered $3,000 prizes, had raised the sum of $1,908 for the Summerside Salvation Army Food Bank and the Tyne Valley Caring Cupboard.

This year, since they’re offering even more prizes, the organizers (various partners from the co-operative and economic development sector) are hoping that the amount raised for these same two food banks to feed families in need will considerably surpass last year’s total. By the fall and winter, the shelves of Island food banks tend to get cleared off extremely quickly.

The event is once again being organized on the occasion of Co-op and Small Business Week.

THE BINGO

Again this year, Sr. Norma Gallant, a volunteer with the Community Communications Co-op, will be in charge of the bingo machine and of calling the bingo numbers.

Raymond J. Arsenault, events coordinator with the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI, will announce the prizes to be won as well as the companies and organizations that sponsored the prizes. Organizers are continuing to accept other prizes. Any business or organization wishing to offer other prizes are asked to contact Arsenault at raymond@rdeeipe.org.

Among the confirmed prizes are various sums of money, numerous gift cards and certificates, a TV set, binoculars, various promotional items, books, duffel bags, a park bench, lobster, skin care products, concert tickets, restaurant meals, gasoline, event decoration, beach blankets, a newspaper subscription and a gym membership. The jackpot prize will be $500 of work or products from a local construction firm. The average value of all 14 of the other games will be well over $200.

Players are reminded to bring their own “dabbers” to be able to play. Cards will be sold for $5 a packet. Participants will also have a chance to buy 50-50 tickets. A canteen service will be provided.

Members of the public will get a chance to win packets of bingo cards at the Wellington Co-op and at the Evangeline-Central Credit Union in Wellington as well as through contests on the page www.facebook.com/rdeeipe in the days preceding the event.

Among the organizers and sponsors of the day, in addition to those already mentioned, are RDÉE Prince Edward Island, the Wellington Rural Action Centre and the Province of PEI.

PLEASE NOTE: A brunch that was supposed to take place right before the bingo has been cancelled.

-30-

CUTLINE: Two of the organizers of the family benefit Mega-Bingo, Amy Richard, left, and Velma Robichaud, a showing a few of the more than $4,000 worth of prizes that will be won during the Oct. 14th event in Abram-Village.

For more information:
Raymond J. Arsenault, coordinator
Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI
(902) 854-3439, Ext. 231
raymond@rdeeipe.org