The Community House of Moorestown will draw winners for its Cash for the Community Holiday 50/50 Raffle on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Only 300 tickets will be sold, and they can be purchased at the community house, Ralph’s Market and the Moorestown Hardware Store. Purchases can also be made by contacting the community house at (856) 235-0326 or Sheree Lantz, chair of the 50/50, at [email protected].
The first prize is 50% of the winning share (up to $7,500), the second is 30% (up to $4,500) and the third is 20% (up to $3,000). Winners need not be present to win.
The nonprofit’s board members came up with the idea for the raffle in 2020, when COVID prevented events at the facility.
“A lot of people think that their taxes, especially in Moorestown, go to the community house … It doesn’t,” Lantz explained. “We’re a 501(c)(3) corporation and we only really survive on donations, so we came up with this idea …
“We needed to do a raffle that the community benefits from as well as us,” she added, “because times are hard, and if they’re (residents) going to give us a donation, I think they should have a chance for something.”
Last year’s raffle raised money for a new sidewalk and shed at the community house.
“Our house is going to be 100 years old, and when a house is 100 years old, you can imagine the bills we’re facing right now trying to fix the roof, the heater … Lantz observed. “It’s like one thing after the other when a building is (so) old.
“That’s why every fundraiser we do, especially this one, is really important.”
Raffle proceeds not only fund the community house, but the event is also exciting for the township’s residents.
“Some people will call and say, ‘I need two tickets. I’m putting both tickets in my kid’s stockings as gifts,’” Lantz shared. “A lot of these are given as gifts, so they say to their kids, ‘You made a donation to the community house, and you have a chance to win some money.’”
According to the community house website, the nonprofit’s mission is to strengthen the community by providing a gathering place for individuals, families and organizations. It’s a unique site that’s been serving Moorestown and its surrounding communities since 1926. Its events include the tree-lighting ceremony, children’s holiday shop and summer concert series. Fundraisers include a golf outing, wine tasting, house party, and finally, the holiday 50/50.
“I think the whole idea behind this was to give a little relief to the community, too, if they needed or wanted a little cash for the holidays, (or) they could share,” Lantz pointed out. “I think it’s a great community event, so you’re giving money to a nonprofit and you’re coming together as a community to do that, yet the community also benefits both ways. We keep the house going, and you have a chance to win.
“It’s a win win.”
