Newtown Community Center hosted Designer Bag Bingo, a night of games, prizes and giving back, last weekend. Proceeds from the October 11 special event will benefit Friends of the Newtown Community Center, a nonprofit that funds scholarships and programs for children, families and seniors.

Advance reservations filled the room at least two weeks before the event, and a growing wait-list showed the popularity of the new fundraiser for the community center.

Guests played ten regular games, and additional games with designer bags as their prizes, and vied for dozens of raffle and door prizes.

Music filled the cavernous room as guests began arriving and then quickly filling all available tables. Volunteers of all ages worked with organizers Helen Cote and Meghan Rice on everything from set-up and seating to selling raffle tickets, serving food and drinks, and then cleanup after the final game was played late Saturday night.

Organizers this week did not yet know how much had been raised for the Friends. Event Co-Chair Rice did hint she hopes Designer Bag Bingo will return next year, “so this special evening can continue to grow and support the Center we all value.”