Community comes together for Pumpkin Bingo

Children and adults filled the Hallett Elementary School cafeteria Oct. 24 for the PTSO's (Parent Teacher Student Organization) annual Pumpkin Bingo night. While the Pumpkin Bingo is the PTSO's first event of the school year, this year's event almost didn't happen.

"The pumpkin patch that donates the pumpkins had all of their pumpkins go bad," PTSO president Alexis Gonzalez said. "We had two days to find 100 pumpkins."

Gonzalez said Yokes' Fresh Markets, out of Airway Heights, donated 50 pumpkins while Denny's Harvest Foods and Tommy G's Espresso supplied 60.

Gonzalez said other local organizations stepped up to help with the event. The Medical Lake Kiwanis Club donated their bingo cards for the evening. Medical Lake High School students volunteered their time and local families donated prizes.

Sherry Niblock has been coming to Pumpkin Bingo for the last five-six years. Although she has never won a pumpkin, she continues to attend the event.

"You get to see a lot of people and the kids have a lot of fun," Niblock said.

Although the event has had larger crowds in the past, Gonzalez said this year's event still had a good attendance.

"Usually it's standing-room only, but tonight was a success," Gonzalez said. "The community comes together every year. People love Pumpkin Bingo. It's so much fun."

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.