“B-14!”
“N-32!”
“G-60!”
You’ll have to excuse me. I’m practicing my bingo-calling skills, because they’re somewhat lacking.
OK, to be totally honest, they’re entirely lacking, because I’ve never before been a bingo caller. So I have to practice up, because just a short while ago, my friend Jamie Buss asked me to be one of two guest bingo callers at a brand-new bingo fundraising event a few weeks from now to benefit Making Spirits Bright.
Jamie Buss and Tracy Nappi are the driving force behind Making Spirits Bright, a nonprofit organization established in 2014 with one simple mission: to provide smiles for families in need during the holiday season. Over the last 11 years, Making Spirits Bright has helped nearly 600 families, mostly through generous donations from community members, who sign up to fill families’ wish lists.
But sometimes some of those wish lists go unfilled, and many include big-ticket items. That’s where this family-friendly afternoon of BINGO will come into play (pun intended).
The fun happens on Sunday, Oct. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. (Don’t worry, it’s a bye week for the Bills.) Participants will each get 10 games with three boards each game, a BINGO dabber, light refreshments and drinks. Winners will receive gift cards and gift baskets donated by local businesses and Making Spirits Bright supporters. You can buy tickets for some fabulous raffle prizes, and if you bring a new toiletry item, unopened cleaning supply, or gift-wrapping item (wrapping paper, ribbon, etc.) you’ll get a free raffle ticket.
Admission is $15 for kids and $25 for adults, capped at $75 per family. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
And business owners, Making Spirits Bright is still looking for event sponsors. For as little as $100 you can get some great visibility for your business, a ticket to the event, have a lot of fun and feel good about supporting a terrific organization. Click here for more details.
By the way, my bingo-calling partner in this fun adventure will be Mike Petzing. You know him as the owner of Shamrock Jack’s Irish Pub where he showcases his BINGO-calling prowess once a month.
(Great … so HE has experience. I’d better get back to practicing.)
“O-63! N-35! I-30! BINGO!” (Wait. I’m not supposed to be yelling that …..)
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(posted 10/4/2025)






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