Two Strasburg organizations that rely on volunteers and community contributions are joining forces again for a fundraiser that will benefit both groups.

The Strasburg Community Parks Foundation and Strasburg Fire Company No. 1 will hold a Bingo, Baskets & Beef BBQ event on Saturday, March 22.  The event will be held at the Strasburg Fire Company, 203 W. Franklin St., Strasburg.

Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., and the bingo games will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets include 10 games of regular cash bingo.  Everyone is required to purchase a ticket to be able to enter and play. Tickets are available at the door on the day of the event. Every child must always be accompanied by an adult, and the child must have purchased bingo cards for admission.

Three special bingo games will be played, with tickets for sale for an additional fee.

Participants will also be able to buy tickets for a chance to win more than 25 different baskets. Barbara Rathbone-Frank, who is the secretary of the Strasburg Community Parks Foundation and the event chairperson, said there will be a variety of baskets, with many of them having a spring or Easter theme.

"This is a win-win-win-win event for the Strasburg Community Park, the fire company, the Strasburg-area community, and those who enjoy playing bingo," said Rathbone-Frank. "We joined together to hold bingo last March and October. It was great to see how popular the events were. The Strasburg Fire Company members helped to create more spacious seating for our guests for this bingo. We can now accommodate many more participants for a fun evening out."

Barbecue sandwiches, soup, and other refreshments will be prepared by the fire police. Food will be available for sale before and during the bingo event.

"It works really well because they don't want to do bingo, and we don't want to do food," Rathbone-Frank said with a smile. "And they're really good with food."

The fire company receives the proceeds from food sales while the park benefits from money generated by bingo games.

"We needed a fundraiser to help us," said Rathbone-Frank. "We send out an annual fund drive letter because we don't get any tax money. We have to raise all our money."

The park previously held car shows, but they were dependent on the weather. "We wanted an indoors event, so that's why we started the bingo," she said.

In addition to regular upkeep, money raised from the bingo event is earmarked for the park's pavilion and stage. Designed to look similar to a barn, they must be stained every five years. It will take a couple years to raise all the funds necessary for that project, Rathbone-Frank said. Last year, the park's trails were redone.

"This time of year, a lot of people are suffering from cabin fever," said Rathbone-Frank, who is being assisted by Justin Tekely, LaJune Ranck, and other volunteers. "They haven't gotten to see a lot of people. Bingo is a lot of fun, and people can also help their community."

The Strasburg Community Park is a 12-acre nature park that features walking trails and native landscape plants. In the summer, the park hosts four free, family-friendly concerts at the outdoor amphitheater. The park is located at 151 Precision Ave. in Strasburg, adjacent to the Strasburg Borough Complex, Lancaster County Art Association, Strasburg-Heisler Library, and Sunshine Corners Daycare. The Strasburg Fire Company responds to more than 200 emergency and fire calls each year. Fundraisers for both organizations provide the main financial support for their operating budgets.

For more information about the bingo event or Strasburg Community Park, call 717-572-6830.