Designer Handbag Bingo event exceeds goal

A significant increase in the number of attendees brought fundraising to $40,000 for the second annual Designer Handbag Bingo event, which benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The event was organized by the Poplar Bluff Heroes team.

It’s estimated more than 600 people attended this year, compared to 340 in the first year, said Miranda Fickert of the Poplar Bluff Heroes team.

“Last year was our first year and we didn’t know what to expect,” Fickert said. “We had it at the Holiday Inn because we didn’t want to jump out there and go too big. We had 340, which was max because of the room.”

This year, organizers were hoping for 500 at the Friday event, which was held at the Black River Coliseum.

“We definitely exceeded it,” she said. “We were so excited. We almost doubled in size. The Coliseum definitely allowed us to do that.”

Fickert’s bingo team has 12 members and “we had two extra volunteers who are friends and our neighbors who live in our community that have just kind of stepped in, and one of them helped at the banquet, too. So there were 14 of us that put it on.”

Fickert thanked everyone who came to Designer Handbag Bingo.

“It was an awesome event for St. Jude,” she said. “Thank you so much for coming out and supporting the event and supporting Poplar Bluff Heroes. Next year, we have some even bigger and better things planned.”

“A huge thanks to the (United Gospel) Rescue Mission for helping us with all the food prep and service,” Fickert said. “They actually smoked the butts for us and their guys served it, which was a great help to us. We had a few others who donated. Munch ‘n Pump donated wine and some gift certificates. We want to do a shout out to thank all the individuals and businesses who underwrote purse purchases. We didn’t get them all underwritten, but we did get several. We try to find someone who will underwrite each one. We did a little over half. Last year, we were almost at a 100%. This year, we didn’t have quite as many but hopefully next year when they see what it was, they’ll get behind it too. “

Maya’s/Las Margaritas and Haffy’s Sports Bar & Grill provided specially drinks. McAlister’s Deli donated tea and Lemonade House Grille provided lemonade.

“Our group really tries not to ask anyone who sponsors or supports the banquet because we don’t want to double dip,” Fickert said. “We don’t want to take away from their support of that event because it’s so big. There are so many people in town that do, so it’s a little bit limited and who we even approach. But, definitely, we get some and we have a lot of individuals who say, ‘Hey, I’ll do a purse for St. Jude.’”

The vendors’ fees helped cover expenses like the Coliseum rental.

“Last year, our Heroes team was invited to join St. Jude’s first ever Quarter Million Dollar Club,” Fickert said. “We were one of five in the nation to hit that quarter-million-dollar mark and the number one community fundraising team in the nation.”