Rossland Rotary is reaching out to give back to the community.
“It is time for us to give away some more Rotary Community Online Bingo $$!,” wrote Rotary president Fiona Martin in an email to Rossland News.
The online community bingo group was started by the City of Golden Rotary in April 2020. Rossland Rotary joined in November of that year, and was followed closely by Trail and Waneta Rotaries the following month.
Its popularity has been overwhelming as it provided much needed COVID relief and a chance for families and friends to share fun nights together virtually.
The money has been raised through BC Gaming, so Rotary has to follow specific rules about how the funds are handed out. Ideally, they are looking for organizations that already receive gaming grants, or otherwise hold a BC Gaming number.
The money has to be distributed within the year and Rotary guidelines for funding include programs and organizations that benefit multiple people, develop health and well being, and improve the environment or children’s development. “We have about $14,000 and would like to use the same process, with possible recipients writing an email to request forms, and then our committee will send out the necessary information,” said Martin.
Half the bingo proceeds are paid out, and the rest goes back into community projects. Each club receives a percentage of the proceeds based on the number of cards sold in their communities.
To date, Martin says Kootenay Rotarians have donated over $500,000 to various groups.
“We are all West and East Kootenay Rotary Clubs of District 5080 going from Grand Forks up to Golden,” said Martin.
In its first round of bingo funding, Rossland Rotary donated a total of $13,000 to four different groups including the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, Kootenay Rowbusters, Rossland Library and Rossland Museum.
Interested groups can email rosslandrotarybingo@gmail.com for an application form. The deadline is May 15.
To help Rotary help others, get your bingo cards online for $10 each. They go on sale each Sunday until noon on game day, every Friday.
“We continue to play on Friday nights, and have really loved the interaction with the other Rotary clubs, as well as the bingo community,” added Martin.
On Friday, April 29 the dual dab bingo game is back. For a refresher go to Rotary Community Online Bingo’s Facebook page.
Cards can be purchased by e-transfer and are valid for one game day. Games start at 5 p.m. Go to golden-rotary.myshopify.com to buy cards.
Read: Rotary hosts ‘100 Rosslanders who care’ event
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