Families in need win big from Longmont Bingo Alley

Longmont Bingo Alley matched local organizations with families and children in need for its annual Christmas gift giveaway. Nonprofits, businesses and schools banded together to provide food baskets for 160 families and Christmas gifts for 255 local youth, according to Pearl Promise Executive Director Donna Rippey.

The Christmas giveaway has been spearheaded by Alfreita Trumbla and Celeste Parker of the Longmont Bingo Alley for several years, Rippey said. Trumbla and Parker received donations from the organizations that host regular events at the hall to make the gifting event a success.

“This was truly a joint effort and this could not have been done without the help of all these wonderful organizations and volunteers,” Trumbla said in a press release.

Partner organizations included Skyline Kiwanis, Airborne Gymnastics, Lifebridge Church, Tri Town Lions, Girls Golf and FHS Music Foundation, Lyons High School Booster Club, Erie High School Boosters, Crossroads School, TLC Learning Center, Silver Creek Organization for Performing Arts, Rhythm of the Horse and PEARL Promise. Volunteers included members of the Lyons High School Student Council.

“We were definitely able to get more presents out this year than we have in the past,” Rippey said. 

Emphasizing the struggles that many families have faced during COVID-19, particularly balancing work and childcare, Rippey was grateful for the chance to help out local families.

“With the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, Christmas has become an added burden to so many families in Longmont and for many kids, this will be the only gift under the tree for them to open on Christmas Day,” Rippey said.