Gift basket bingo gives gift of hope in Cherry Valley
by Janine Giordano |
Hope is normally not something that can be gift wrapped, but students and faculty at Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School are putting that notion to rest with a fundraising effort slated for Friday. The student council is sponsoring a Basket Bingo Benefit for the son of faculty member and Jordanville resident Steve Davis, who serves as the technology teacher, coach and athletic director. “This is a true testament to the caring and giving of our community,” said Davis’ 31 year old son, Jason Loonan, of Vernon, who has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Uncertainty regarding the continuance of his insurance, travel costs, co-pays, and deductibles are some of the obligations draining his finances, said Loonan, an employee of Mohawk Comfort Service, currently out on medical leave. In a rallying show of support for Davis, who has been employed with CV-S for six years, the student council is sponsoring a bingo benefit, with filled gift baskets going to each winner, said Meghan Shirey, 17, and a senior at CV-S. The event starts at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria, with bingo cards going for $25 each. The council is suggesting people bring their own bingo markers, in the form of loose change, which will also be donated to the cause. Players will need 25 markers per card. There is an “Ultimate Prize” in one final bingo game at the end of the night and this will cost an additional $5 to play. They are still looking for donations to prepare for the evening, with a shortage of empty baskets, cellophane basket wrap, items to be included in the baskets, and completed baskets. There are a number of basket themes that will be offered for children, adults, men and women. Some of the themes will be geared to bakers, sewing enthusiasts, scrap bookers, coffee and tea lovers, movie, readers, art and sport baskets. There will also be holiday baskets for Halloween and Christmas and Teddy Bear and Barbie baskets, which will make great holiday gifts. The council hopes to raise at least $1,000 for Loonan, between the basket bingo, a basket raffle, concessions and an additional event, Jeans for Jason. Shirey said that on Friday teachers will be permitted to wear jeans to school for a fee of $5. “When the community first found out about this we wanted to do a benefit right away,” Shirey said. “But he didn’t want us to. Every fall we do a fundraiser, so this year we thought we would do one to raise money to help pay for his chemo and medical bills. We decided to do basket bingo because it’s something different. It’s something new and they’ll be getting something out of it.” “This school district has dealt with a lot of tragic things here and we always pull together,” said Kim Gray, a licensed teaching assistant and advisor for the student council. “It is unbelievable how (CV-S) helps one another in a time of need,” Davis said.
|
|