MUSCATINE, Iowa–In the years leading up to the 2020s, the Muscatine Community Y came up with the clever idea of going back in time by holding 1920’s themed casino nights to raise money for their many programs and activities. The events proved successful, but when fall of 2020 actually came around, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to reinvent the event. Staff members put their heads together and hosted the first Roaring 20s Raffle, which proved so popular that it sold out. In the years since, they have continued the tradition and look forward to holding their next raffle Nov. 11.
This year’s Roaring 20s Raffle has many great prizes for participants to get excited for. Sponsors have gone all in to provide some outstanding items, including an overnight stay at the Merrill Hotel, an iPad from Bayer Muscatine, Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball tickets from CBI Bank and Trust, several $100 and $50 Visa gift cards, a Des Moines pub pass for two, and a grand prize of gas for a year from Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh. With tickets costing only $20 a piece, entrants can win any of these attractive prizes without spending a fortune. Muscatine Community Y Marketing and Development Director Nicole McCleary expressed gratitude to the sponsors for making this year’s raffle bigger and better than ever before: “I would also like to give a shout-out to a couple individual donors who wish to remain anonymous. They generously donated the gift cards for our raffle and it’s because of the support of our individual donors, Bayer, CBI, and Hy-Vee Muscatine that this raffle can be such a great success!”
The Muscatine Community Y will sell only 750 tickets for the Roaring 20s Raffle, increasing participant’s chances of winning. McCleary hopes to sell out of tickets this year so that the Y can bring in $15,000 to purchase equipment and cover transportation costs for Special Olympics of Muscatine, host match events for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Muscatine, offer free adult exercise classes, provide Y Play childcare for free to members while they exercise or participate in a program, and continue to offer Kids Club and other safe and fun afterschool activities for children and teens.
If you would like to purchase tickets for this year’s Roaring 20s Raffle, you may get them at the Y (1823 Logan Street in Muscatine) during their regular business hours, by calling the Y at 563-263-9996, visiting their website, or scanning the QR code included on the flyers they have hung around town. This year’s raffle will take place on Nov. 11, and the Muscatine Community Y’s staff will livestream the drawing from the Y’s lobby.
A swell way to help the Muscatine Community Y continue to offer a wide selection of programs and services, McCleary encourages you to purchase tickets for yourself, and perhaps some as gifts for friends as well. “Buying a raffle ticket (or several tickets) is a simple way people can support the work we do at the Y – all the while having a chance to win some great prizes too!” she emphasized. “If you have the ability to purchase an extra ticket, you could put someone else’s name on it–imagine the excitement and joy that someone would receive finding out they won a ticket that had been gifted to them!”
