By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN News Reporter
BUCYRUS — About 320 women made their way to the Youth Building at the Crawford County Fairgrounds for the fifth-annual United Way Designer Purse Bingo.
The event is the kick-off for the new United Way Campaign.
“Our goal for this campaign is the same as last year’s goal of $300,000,” said Amber Wertman, executive director for United Way of North Central Ohio.
Galion native Nadia Oehler took over as manager of the United Way of Crawford County in June.
“We raised $14,000 from this event,” Oehler said Monday.
The local United Way uses the money raised from each campaign to assist its 23 partner agencies that then fund a multitude of resources that serve the citizens of Crawford County.
“Those 23 partner agencies fund 30 resources in Crawford County,” Wertman said.
Margie Maddox is the founder of the Jericho House, one of the resources that benefits from donations given to United Way.
“This is such a fun event and they are donating feminine products that were collected to our ladies at the Jericho House,” Maddox said.
Each woman that attended the bingo event brought feminine products to donate to local shelters and the Jericho House, which offers a transitional program for women battling drug addiction.
Cindy Welsh sat with her friends at the Mizick-Miller table and could not wait for the 20 bingo games to begin.
“We love to play purse bingo,” said Welsh, who said she also goes to purse bingo events in Sycamore and other areas.
Nancy Germann won the most coveted purse of the night, a $1,200 Kate Spade leopard skin handbag.
“I can’t believe I won,” she said as bingo caller Eric Faulds of Country Legends 1540/107.5 WBCO, Iconic Rock Q92.7 WQEL and Crawford County Now called Germann’s winning number, G-46.
For more information about the United Way of Crawford County and this year’s campaign, visit United Way of Crawford County’s website.