GIRARD, Ohio - An end to more than 50 years of bingo fundraising at Saint Rose Hall in Girard has upset those who enjoy the game which supports the church and school.

They ask why the Parish Priest says the money raised isn't needed, they will find other funds when collections are down and inflation has been high for years.

Folks who have attended bingo for decades with their grandparents, then parents, and volunteered while their children have attended Saint Rose School in  Girard are not only hoping they win big.

They hope Father John will have a change of heart and allow bingo to continue at Saint Rose Hall.

The decision was a Parish decision and was not made by the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.
 
"You know even if you don't win your donation to the church. You're doing something good for the community," Margie Sandora said. 
 
The organizer says Saint Rose will lose up to 60,000 dollars a year at a time when donations are down.
 
 
"The church needs money and we don't understand how they do not need this money. You know it can bring in over 
$5,000, we do bingo twice a month," bingo Organizer, Annette Minniti said.
 
She tells us Father John said they'll find other sources of funding. 
 
But bingo players here point out that with reduced enrollment at parochial schools and more closings over the years due to a lack of money, they say not needing money doesn't add up. 
 
They emphasize that students are out of school by 3:00 p.m. so they don't understand how student safety could be jeopardized.  "But I don't understand that because the doors open at 5:00 p.m. Today they opened early. That little playground out there, the kids are gone. That's an after-school program," Clara Bemish said. 
 
Father John tells 21 News that an "internal decision" was made and said there was no need for further comments. 
 
Folks here will miss seeing friends and acquaintances they've made and the charm of John Cookie Scirocco who tells us he has volunteered for over half a century. 
 
"About 60 years. I'm 94 years old, going on 100," John "Cookie" Scirocco said.