United Disabilities Services (UDS) will hold a pick-your-own-prize bingo event on Saturday, March 14, at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m.; the first game will begin at 1 p.m.

There is a discount on tickets purchased in advance, and tickets will also be available at the door if not sold out. The fee includes 20 games of regular bingo, and there will also be four special games with cash prizes. Players must be 18 years old or older to claim a prize.

"If people are interested in getting a ticket, I would strongly suggest getting their ticket beforehand, because we sell out every year," said Jen King, a member of the UDS Service Dogs Ambassador Team.

Tickets can be purchased by going to http://www.udservices.org/bingo26 or by visiting the UDS Corporate Office, 2270 Erin Court, Lancaster.

For more information, email karens@udservices.org or call 717-397-1841.

Local businesses make the fundraiser possible. "We are thankful for the generosity of Primitives by Kathy," said King. "They donated $500 worth of products for us to go shopping and create baskets."

Other prizes include Dutch Wonderland tickets and gift cards from Basset & Lab, Fireside Tavern, and Twisted Bine Beer Company. "Without the help of the local businesses that support this, we would not be able to put this program together," King said. "We will have everything from house goods to dog items to experiences. Urban Air is also donating tickets for go-karting."

There will also be food for sale with the menu featuring hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, barbecue, chips, baked goods, and drinks such as soda and iced tea.

"It's our second-largest fundraiser that we hold each year," said King. "Other than just the prizes, we'll also have a 50/50, and we have door prizes as well. But even if you don't win anything, it's just knowing that you're part of something bigger. The ripple effect of a wagging tail goes very, very far in this program."

The money generated goes directly to the service dogs program. "UDS has 14 different programs under our umbrella," said King. "This fundraiser is specifically for service dogs. That will allow us to continue with the training, paying for food, vet care. It takes $38,000 to put one dog through our training program, so events like this really help to offset that expense for our clients."

Justin Snyder will be the guest bingo caller. "Justin is a veteran, so it's perfect for us because we train some of our dogs for veterans with PTSD," King said.

King noted that UDS provides valuable services. "We are enhancing the lives of those living in our communities, within a three-hour radius of Lancaster, who have mobility disabilities and for children with autism," she said. "We're also placing facility dogs in schools and counseling centers and retirement communities as well."

A story from a retirement community is evidence of UDS' success. "One of our dogs, Casey, is out at Garden Spot Village, and they call him their community dog, because he really has become part of the community for the residents out there," said King. "Within the first three months of him being a working dog out there, their reports of outbursts dropped over 30%. So instead of giving them a medication to help them to relax, they would bring in Casey. It's a holistic approach."