BY TOM FONTANA
Correspondent

This winter has been brutal, and right about now everyone could use a little pampering.

Anyone ready to be pampered need look no further than this Sunday, March 1, when the Susquehanna Community Education Association (SCEA) with sponsor “The Pampered Chef Bingo” to raise funds for its annual senior scholarship award.

The event will be held in the Susquehanna Elementary School cafeteria. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and the pampering will begin at 2 p.m. Stephanie Jones of Clifford Twp., a representative of The Pampered Chef, will host the event and award prizes consisting Pampered Chef cooking items.

Kathleen Hinkley, president of the SCEA and a second-grade teacher at Susquehanna, is organizing the fundraiser with members of the group, and many district teachers are participating in selling tickets and creating theme baskets for a raffle.

“We held a Pampered Chef bingo two years ago,” Katheleen said, “and it was very successful. About 80 bingo players participated, and we raised $2,000.”

The SCEA awards the scholarship to Susquehanna High School seniors planning to go to college. Students must apply for the funds and participate in an evaluation process that includes an interview with faculty members, who then make recommendations as to which student or students they feel should receive a scholarship.

“The scholarship money is sometimes distributed to more than one student,” Hinkley explained. “This year the SCDA has $3,000 in scholarship funds to award.”
The Pampered Chef prizes are acquired through donations by businesses and professional organizations in the community. All prizes are worth $50 or more.

Prizes include utensils used for cooking and baking, such as pots and pans, baking dishes, spatulas and spoons, and a variety of seasonings.

Refreshments, such as hot dogs, baked goods, soda and water will be available for sale for those who work up an appetite while marking their Bingo cards.

Twenty games of various styles of Bingo will be played, and cards and markers will be provided by The Pampered Chef. Hinkley said the gaming should last about two hours.

Admission tickets for the event are $20 pre-sale or $25 at the door on Bingo day. Tickets can be purchased ahead from high school teachers, or by calling Hinkley at 570-853-4921, ext. 1239.

Some of the prize sponsors include Susquehanna Lions Club, Pro Seal, Green Gables, Barnes Kasson/Family Health Center, Schneider’s Market, Hilling Storage Co., Riverside Bowling Lanes, Elk Mt. Ski Resort, and Susquehanna American Legion.