Libertyville's Winchester House hosts Christmas bingo

At the Winchester House health care facility in Libertyville, the Christmas spirit was in ample supply Friday afternoon.

Gifts awaited unwrapping, while a huge tree and a mini village that included houses decked with lights and a train set, graced the scene.

But there was plenty of competitive spirit as well.

Between 50 and 60 attendees were seated around tables for the annual Christmas Bingo event.

They listened intently as Jerry Howard read off letters and numbers. Meanwhile Howard's wife, Susan, and daughter, Rachel, along with several other volunteers, were helping contestants with their Bingo cards.

Jerry and Susan, who live in Vernon Hills, have been sponsoring the event for about three years. Each year, they bring 50 crisp, new one-dollar bills and goody bags. They were joined by Rachel, who lives in Iowa, where she works as a teacher.

Susan Howard said they became involved in Winchester House, which is run by Lake County government and has provided county residents with long-term health care for 150 years, through a neighbor, Susan Oster, who was also on hand Friday.

Susan Howard said she makes cookies for the goody bags, which also include candy. "Some of them are really just always cheerful, always upbeat. They are just so appreciative and they inspire me," she said.

The Howards now run four bingo events during the year at Winchester House - springo bingo for Easter, love bingo for Valentine's Day, Hallowingo bingo for Halloween and Christmas Bingo.

"It gives them a little something to look forward to and kind of brightens their day," Jerry Howard said. "And for us, it's a way to share something on Christmas Day. We don't have family here. They have kind of become our family."

Jerry Howard said much of his family is away from the area. "We didn't have a lot of family things that we were going to, so this really worked out well, to get involved."

Rachel Howard, who sported antlers for the occasion, said, "My grandparents don't live around here, so being able to spend time with other people's grandparents is really nice."

Mary Purnell, resident services manager for Winchester House, said the residents are given the choice of one-dollar prizes or gifts, but most choose the money because many of them are on public aid and have limited budgets.

"They just like the idea of winning," Purnell said. "They just like the idea of competition and having a lucky card. "You are never too old to win."

Winchester House resident Walter Swift, 81, said the residents spend their dollars on items like shampoo and razor blades. "These guys, Mr. and Mrs. Howard, you can't beat them. They are fantastic. Just like clockwork. They are the very best," he said.

Oster said she started participating because she wanted to partake in the true spirit of Christmas. "I feel I have been blessed with a lot of things, and maybe I can share that with somebody who is less fortunate," said Oster, who works for the International Psychogeriatric Association.

Jerry Howard said the participants take the competition seriously. Howard's words were borne out by the competitive words exchanged between two rival tables.

"They take it very seriously," Jerry Howard said. "You can't give them the card. They have to pick the card because there are certain lucky numbers that they expect to see on the card."

The dollars are a big part of the event.

Jerry Howard said he works at a Chase bank. "So I always get crisp one-dollar bills." The crispness is important, he said, recalling one time when he didn't get crisp bills and received negative feedback.

Kathryn Siedlecki, 58, a 13-year resident, was one of the winners. "People get so excited when they come and play. They love the Bingo the best," she said. "I want to win all the time."