Sara Stadem | Editor
In February 2019, Buffalo Ridge Brewing started an afternoon BINGO game for all ages that gives all of the proceeds back to the community.
Buffalo Ridge Brewing Callie Tuschen said, “We reach out to another community leader or business peer, someone that is on an organization that is in the community.” She continued, “That person is the caller of the BINGO game. That caller gets to choose whatever charity gets the proceeds.”
This even takes place once a month, usually the first Saturday of the month and has been able to give over $12,000 in the Hartford area communities, according to Tuschen. “That’s pretty cool being able to provide an opportunity for the community to come together and have something fun to do and still give back to the community. It gives the organizations in the area an opportunity to get a little extra,” she said.
“Things are different this year with everything going on, normal fundraisers that people usually put on can’t be done and they are trying to do things virtually so every little bit helps,” stated Tuschen.
This month’s caller is Sherri Goebel and the organization she has chosen is “Characters of Kindness, explained Tuschen. This is a fairly new organization, Tuschen said, as it just came to be in the last year.
“They provide food, clothing, money for utility bills, rent, etc. to someone in need,” Tuschen said. “They get word about someone in the community that might need a little bit of help and it’s anonymous.”
Tuschen’s understanding is that it came about because teachers were able to identify a student or family that might need a little extra. “Nobody wants to be made a big deal so they (Character of Kindness) were able to come up with a way that it’s anonymous for the receiver to get the help they may need. I think it’s an amazing opportunity to provide for someone in our community that hasn’t asked for help but needs the help.”
Come join in on BINGO while giving back to the community on Saturday, December 5, from 3-5 pm.