T-L Photo/ ROBERT A. DEFRANK/ The Bel-Mon Shrine Club is holding a purse bingo on Saturday. Tickets are available for pre-sale. Lynn Jeffries looks over tickets being sold by John Paglialunga.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — John Paglialunga of the Bel-Mon Shrine Club of Belmont and Monroe Counties was in front of the From Past to Present Quilt Store recently selling tickets and raising awareness for a designer purse bingo to benefit the Shriner’s hospitals and the help they provide to children.

“All the proceeds are going to be donated to the Shriner’s Childrens’ Hospital,” he said. “We have several throughout the United States. The ones that we maintain and are close to us are Erie and Philadelphia and Cincinnati.”

He said the facilities include hospitals and burn units.

“They deal with crippled and burned children,” he said.

There will be 15 bingo games with a chance to win one of 15 purses. He said several businesses and organizations in the county have already sponsored a purse.

“They’re all designer purses. There are Michael Kors, Coach, and Dooney Bourke,” he said. “They can sponsor a purse. Any business in Belmont or Monroe County or anywhere in the Ohio Valley that wants to sponsor a purse, they can contact us. A sponsorship ranges from $100-$400.”

The event will be held Aug. 19 and there are 200 pre-sale tickets available. Paglialunga said he hopes for a successful turnout.

“I’d like to raise several thousand if possible. Whatever we can raise is always a help. My goal would be $2,000 to $3,000, if not more,” he said, adding that he hopes the club will continue its growth and good works.

“We do fundraisers yearly. The Bel-Mon Shrine Club is a club that used to be around. It folded for awhile and we’re trying to get it back up and running again,” he said.

He added that there are tickets available at the Past to Present shop and they can be mailed to individuals who send a check made out to the Bel-Mon Shrine Club.

“We can always mail them their ticket,” he said.

The event will be held at the Osiris Shrine at 91 Kruger St., Wheeling. Paglialunga said doors will open 5:30 p.m. with bingo beginning 6:30 p.m.

“There is no alcohol allowed and they must be 18 or older to participate in the bingo,” he said.

Anyone wishing to sponsor a purse, purchase a ticket or join the Shriners may call 740-391-2085 or 740-391-9487.