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Date: 3/23/2021
WEST SPRINGFIELD – On March 17, the Senior Center in West Springfield hosted its first in a series of parking lot Bingo events for individuals over the age of 60.
Parking lot Bingo will take place every Wednesday at 1 p.m. To ensure people’s safety and comfort while playing, participants are able to remain in their cars for the duration of the event.
According to Council on Aging Director Sarah Long, they offered Bingo in the fall and it was a “great turnout.”
Long explained, seniors are able to pull into the lot with whoever they bring. They will then be handed a list of instructions and a dashboard sheet to display when they’re ready to begin.
All participants receive disposable Bingo cards and pens, if someone doesn’t haven’t their own. An SM transmitter is used to tune the car radios into the designated station. Through their radios, they are able to hear the Bingo numbers being called, said Long.
“You honk if you win!” Long explained. She added, “We go over and take your card and use a walkie talkie to call it in–they say yes or no.”
All winners receive a prize. Some prizes are given through sponsors by local organizations.
The event is free to all participants. Bingo usually lasts about an hour, playing 10 games in total.
Long said, “We welcome anyone over the age of 60, any residents, and even people who don’t live in West Springfield.”
For the time being, Bingo is strictly weather permitting as it takes place outside. Long said they hope to be back in the building soon, however they don’t know when that may be.
“We are looking into other outdoor programming,” claimed Long. Everything needs to be approved by the Health Department first, she added.
Long told Reminder Publishing that a lot of seniors like to play cards, and it’s something they can’t do right now. However, with Bingo, they can space people out safely.
“It’s wonderful to see people,” said Long. In other terms, “It’s food for the soul,” she added.
Registration for the event is first-come, first-serve. While space is limited, sign up online by visiting townofwestspringfield.org or by calling 263-3264.