It was the ultimate girls’ night out at an inaugural Boujie Handbag Bingo fundraiser to benefit the Mental Health Association, where more than 100 women filled the Heritage Center, eager to try their luck at winning a designer handbag while playing a lively game of bingo.
This was not your typical slow-paced retirement home bingo, though. It was more like a bingo party on steroids, with shouts of excitement echoing through the room after every number was called. Chris Travis, the charismatic bingo caller, kept the energy level high and the pace fast and furious.
Each participant received eight bingo cards, offering multiple chances to win a “boujie” handbag throughout the evening. Winners could choose a mystery gift bag from the prize table, each concealing a coveted designer handbag, and judging by the smiles, no one left disappointed.
Before the games began, guests indulged in a spread of charcuterie and light bites from Wild Thyme, accompanied by a glass of Boujie Punch.
Each attendee also received a raffle ticket, and could purchase others, for chances to win an array of fabulous prizes from handbags and jewelry to salon services and gift products, all generously donated by local businesses. To top it off, six more designer handbags were featured in a silent auction, creating a buzz of friendly competition.
“This is our first Boujie Bingo event, although it’s not new to our community,” explained Philip Cromer, executive director of the Mental Health Association of Indian River County.
“The event was originally hosted by Suncoast, which closed earlier this year. We spoke with them, and they wanted to see it continue, so we’re carrying on the tradition. All proceeds from this event benefit MHA’s Parent and Child Center, which opened in May 2023.”
The cause is an urgent one as mental health challenges among children and teens are on the rise.
Statistics indicate that one in five children between the ages of 13 and 18 live with a mental health condition. Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10 to 24, and 90 percent of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness. Additionally, 37 percent of students with a mental health condition drop out of school.
The Parent and Child Center was established to meet the growing mental health needs of local children and teens by providing a range of services including therapy, triage, psychiatric care, referrals and psycho-educational support. Since its opening, the center has completed 1,381 therapy sessions for children and teens, guided 102 students through academic skill-building programs, and conducted 110 screenings for walk-in clients.
Most services are provided to county residents regardless of the ability to pay. A professional screening is initiated to determine each child’s treatment needs and to create an individualized care plan. The PACC’s clinical staff includes licensed mental health professionals and supervised clinicians in training, all dedicated to helping local children and families thrive.
In the end, the evening was less about handbags and bingo, and more about community, compassion and connection. Between the laughter, cheers and lucky shouts of “Bingo!,” the women in attendance were helping to change lives, one card and one child at a time.
For more information, visit mhairc.org.
Photos by Kerry Firth