Philomath’s Turkey Bingo returns Friday with proceeds going toward sending Philomath Middle School sixth graders to Outdoor School this spring.
The event runs 5-8 p.m. Nov. 13 at Philomath High School. Bingo starts at 5:30 p.m. and continues until 8, with Brian Skaar calling the games. The evening also includes a silent auction and food for purchase.
Bingo cards cost $7 each or four for $20. Shelby Juhl, who leads the sixth-grade parent group organizing the fundraiser, said first-timers should know the cards are reusable for every game. Players don’t have to buy a new card for each round.
“Someone that’s never been, that might seem expensive if you’re having to buy a new bingo ticket every game,” Juhl said. “You don’t. They’re reusable. You can play every bingo game.”
Games will be played for turkeys and other prizes throughout the evening. Parents are donating many of the turkeys.
For dinner, organizers will sell pizza with soda or bottled water and chips, plus bags of popcorn. All food sales go to Outdoor School, and organizers will accept cards as well as cash.
The silent auction has more than 25 items, mostly gift baskets assembled from local business donations. Juhl said the top item is a pellet pizza oven from Wilco, which comes with pellets and accessories. Bidding is expected to close at about 7:30 p.m.
Juhl said the group hopes to raise $5,000 to $8,000. Between 25 and 30 volunteers have signed up to help with setup, the event and takedown.
This is the 19th Turkey Bingo. The event originally supported Outdoor School and later went to other middle school programs. This year it returns to its original cause.
The fundraising effort follows a cut in state Outdoor School funding. Philomath’s award from the state’s Outdoor School for All grant program is $79,091.25, and the total cost of this year’s program is about $90,000. The school’s 132 sixth graders are scheduled to attend the five-day, four-night program at Camp Tadmor near Sweet Home during the last week of April.
Community support has grown since Philomath News reported on the funding gap last month. The Philomath Community Foundation donated $5,000 in response to a letter from the parent group. Juhl said a local family also pledged $10,000 after reading the story.
The Philomath Frolic and Rodeo also collected donations during its craft fair Nov. 7-8 and pledged to match up to $3,000 of them. It also plans to donate proceeds from the fair.
People who can’t attend Turkey Bingo can still help. The school accepts online donations through its donation page. Papa’s Pizza Parlor, 1030 SW Third St. in Corvallis, will host a fundraiser Dec. 1. Customers who bring a flyer will send 50% of their food purchase to Outdoor School.
