St. John Casino Night brings in $3,000

Casino Night in St. John last month raised approximately $3,000 with about 125 in attendance, reported Lydia Smith, one of the event organizers.

The second annual Casino Night was at the St. John Community Building and included blackjack, poker, roulette, bingo and a beginner poker table. Funds raised are going toward improvements at the St. John Heritage Museum.

Smith said she was pleased with the attendance.

“We thought we'd have a few more, but we were competing with the Gonzaga game, and the flu prevented some people from coming,” she said.

At the Casino Night, there was also a dessert and wine auction. People donated desserts and wines for the occasion. For the dessert, individuals bid on the sweets, and for the wine, individuals purchased a cork for $10. The cork corresponded with a wine bottle.

“It was fun. It was kind of a silent auction,” said Smith. “It was a way to raise a little more money.”

Up next in St. John is Bingo Night this Sunday, March 5. This Bingo Night fundraiser follows the one conducted in St. John in January.

“We're all really up there in age, so we have to have easy stuff to do,” she said. “And the bingo is so fun. And we like to gamble sometimes, too.”

Bingo Night in January took in $600, and it had a 50 percent payback to participants, so $300 was raised in total. Sunday’s will follow the same format.

Bingo is slated at city hall from 2-5 p.m.