Maricopa charity bingo raises funds for Vets in Need, food pantry

Bingo nights at Duke’s Roadhouse in Maricopa are anything but quiet. Instead of a hushed room dabbing paper cards, guests get music, dancing and a lively crowd.

“This is entertainment, this is fun. There’s music and dancing in between games,” said Andrew Anderson, the bingo MC from Maricopa’s Moose International lodge.

Attendees show up as early as 4 p.m. for food, drinks and to set up their bingo table with their own ink dabbers and a few lucky charms before the games get started at 6 p.m.

And between the laughs and big wins, the event also serves a bigger purpose.

“We set aside a portion of our proceeds to back into the community, and [Duke’s Roadhouse] decided to match what we raised,” Anderson said.

Those proceeds go not only towards the organization to help acquire a permanent lodge and the fraternal organization’s charities, but also local nonprofits in Maricopa.

On Monday night, the Maricopa Moose and Duke’s Roadhouse jointly donated $310 to Veterans in Need Project and $700 to Maricopa Pantry, the lodge’s October and November beneficiaries.

Justin Price of Veterans in Need welcomed the support. The nonprofit provides microgrants to veterans facing immediate financial crises, such as helping to cover utility bills, car payments or provide gift cards for groceries.

“It’s amazing that we’re really starting to be recognized by other organizations for what we do, and for them to help us help others,” he said.

The nonprofit was jumpstarted by Price’s son as a high school project in 2021. Price is also a veteran of the Army National Guard.

“He identified a need in the community that veterans need a little more support,” Price said. “We offer an immediate hand-up and then we get them in contact with other nonprofits that can handle bigger stuff. It’s trying to get them back up on their feet from whatever stumbling block or wall they ran into.”

Duke’s Managing Partner Patrick Denny said he’s glad to see the impact the restaurant can make.

“It’s a very cool thing and everybody wins,” he said. “I’m really happy with what we’ve been able to do over the last eight weeks, and not just for Moose Lodge, but for everybody. We are open to everybody, and we want to support everyone in the community.”