Does charity begins at the VFW; Bingo

Homer and Tomma Dempsey have been running the bingo at the VFW for years. For the last 15 years or so just about everyone knew where to find Homer and Tomma Dempsey on Thursday and Sunday evenings.

They were at the local VFW calling bingo. In fact, you could say the couple’s lives revolve around their love for the game and for the organization.

“When the VFW was on Hwy. 31 it got closed up because of alcohol sales,” Homer said. “There were a lot of fights, so we were closed down.”

Tomma said before moving to the Longview Street location, a lot of the VFW members were either quitting or going to Longview.

But that’s history now.

Since the move, the Dempsey’s bingo games have grown. Now twice a week between 40 and 60 – and sometimes more – show up, hoping to be able to yell, “BINGO!”

Not only do the Dempseys call bingo for the VFW, but they also conduct games for Helping Hands and the Crisis Center. Tomma said the law requires most of the money to be given to charity.

“We try to do a benefit for Helping Hands and the Crisis Center before Thanksgiving every year,” Tomma said.

The last benefit bingo game raised $2,100 for the groups.

“We (the VFW) also send each group $50 a month to help out,” Homer said.

They’ve been doing this for at least the last four or five years.

“When you get to be our age you don’t remember too well,” said 76-year old Tomma.

Homer is a spry 83.

Many VFWs have bingo games but Kilgore’s VFW has become known as one of the best places to play the game.

“Tomma and I go every two years for training,” Homer said. “They make sure we know the rules.”

He said it’s mandatory for all workers to wear name tags and have background checks.

“We’re licensed by the state,” he said. “We have to renew that license every year.”

Tomma and Homer have make the Kilgore VFW bingo games so notable that they rake in quite a bit of money for their various projects.

“We made $10,000 the last quarter,” Tomma said. “Five percent out of every pot goes to the state.”

The state limited bingo games to four hours but during those hours a lot can happen.

“One time a lady came up to the front for something and her pants fell to the floor,” Homer said. “I don’t know what the problem was but everyone had a good laugh.”

Tomma said bingo players range in age from 10 to 98.

“We had a 98-year-old women who came from Longview to play until she got so she couldn’t get here any longer,” she said. “There are two sisters from Hallsville who come every week, both days.”

Players from Tyler, Gilmer, Gladewater and other area towns are drawn to Kilgore on Thursdays and Saturdays for bingo at the VFW.

The Dempseys play bingo in two sets. The first starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday and 6 p.m. on Sundays. For $10 a player can get a “big pack” that consists of a Green Quickie, Blue Pack Card, Orange Holder, Green Border, Yellow Border and a Pink Border 4-in-1.

The green quickie pays out half of the sales while the blue, orange, green and yellow pay out $60 each. The Pink Border 4-in-1 features four games. The Crazy T, Crazy H and Picture Frame all pay out $35 while the blackout pays $50 or $75 if there are over 40 playing.

After these games comes a break and then its time for the high rollers or “bingo-ers.”

The Aqua card pays out 75 percent of the sales; The brown pays $300 or $150 if there are fewer than 30 players. Consolation is $110 or !00 if there are under 30 layers. The white pays $125 or $150 if there are more that 45 players. But if there are fewer than 25 players it only pays $100.

The Red Lucky 7 where a person will bingo in seven numbers or less pays $150 or $125 depending on the number of players or you can go on for three bingos for $100 pay out, $75 with there are fewer than 30 players.

With a Progressive Blackout which starts with 50 numbers, a player can win $600, or $300 if fewer than 30 play. Consolation is $125 or $150 if 40 or more play and $100 if there a fewer than 30 players.

Then there’s the olive ---winner take all.

“We have people come both nights and I’ve seen some spend $100 or more twice a week playing bingo,” Tomma said.

The good part of the game, according to Homer is winning. The hardest part of the game is getting the last number you need.

“Bingo is something everyone can do,” he said.

“We’re seeing more and more men playing now,” Tomma said.

Homer and Tomma have been married 20 years and have spent most of their time together work for the VFW and operating bingo games.

“We’ve been trying to get some younger people interested in operating the game,” Homer said. “We’re going to keep on as long as we can but I don’t want to see the game end there.”