By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
The annual Turkey Bingo fundraiser will not return to the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall this year due to COVID-19 restrictions against social gatherings, however there will still be turkeys available for purchase which will go to support Solvang Arts and Music (SAM), the after-school program at Solvang Elementary School.
“We are super sad we cannot hold this event this year, but thankful for the opportunity to still provide turkeys from El Rancho at a low cost which will help support our after-school programs,” said Jody Williams, of SAM.
Williams said the turkeys will be $25 and also this year people can add a holiday pie from Valley Fresh for an additional $10 in form of a voucher. Then people may redeem the voucher at Valley Fresh between Nov. 19 and 25.
All proceeds go to pay for music/art and drama teacher’s salaries, instruments, and art supplies at Solvang School.
The event was operated for more than 30 years by the Alpha Pi Sorority, which in recent years handed it off to the Solvang Arts and Music Foundation (SAM) and the Solvang School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
The event was begun in 1913 by the Hejls Minde 23 Chapter of the Danish Society of Dania of California and Nevada. The wives of the Dania men started the Danish Ladies Society, Dannebrog of Dania, and took over the event in 1937. The Alpha Pi sorority then took over in the late 1980s.
There are no more live turkeys, as there were in the days at Dania Hall, which stood on the site of the current Petro’s Cafe in Solvang. But hundreds of people still flock to the event in hopes of winning a frozen bird for Thanksgiving dinner.
Pick-up will be at Solvang School’s Lower Campus Gym from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, or arrange for same day delivery to Solvang, Buellton, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and Ballard.
For delivery or any other questions, or if you would like to pay by cash or check contact Carola Hecker 805-878-8860.
