Bingo On Saturday???

You would think that dealing with the Magic Kingdom of Bingo once a week would be enough, but no ... we all gathered together yesterday for a marathon run of number calling.  THIS however, was for the special needs children and adults of the area.  There's nothing like volunteering for the Elks.  Our group does so much for the community .. and nobody knows about it because they never advertise their good deeds.  There's going to be a special place in Heaven for this group!!

Course when they told me I had to be there by 8:00 am, I balked a little.  Most of us are retired!!  I never get out of the house before 10:00 and you want me there by 8:00???  As with all our other charity occasions, we give away bags and bags of goodies which have to be filled.  So many items were donated that we even used big brown shopping bags this time.  There was fruit, candy, granola bars, nuts and dried fruit, along with even MORE candy and T-shirts for everyone.

You can't imagine how excited these kids and adults were, as they come running in and hugged everyone!!  They just think this game is the cat's meow!  Volunteers walk around the tables, making sure they mark the right squares and that everyone .... and I mean EVERYONE gets to yell BINGO and win a prize.

While all that was going on, I helped the kitchen crew get hamburgers and hotdogs cooked and set up the line for lunch.  Cheeseburgers were definitely the hit of the day!!

The food must have been pretty good, as several came through the line, not once, not twice, but three times!!  With almost 100 in attendance, not counting staff, we fed lots of people, poured pitcher after pitcher of soda, handed out those big goodie bags, along with prizes for everyone and cleaned up a huge mess.  Whew!!!  I finally got to sit down at 1:30.  That's WAY to long to be standing in cowboy boots!!

Volunteering may not be everyone's cup of tea, but each time I give of my time and energy for one of these events, I not only have a great day, I have a great week!!  With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, it's the time for sharing and giving, and there are probably lots of places you can help out ... or people you know that you can help ... just because.  

Pass it forward folks ... pay for the guy behind you in Starbucks coffee shop, give someone $20 to help pay for their groceries at the checkout line ... or volunteer your time at the local Elks Lodge ... even if you don't belong.  I promise you will feel good for a week!!  Then do it again ...