Courtesy of Cranston Herald. Written by Barbara Polichetti

Fun, good food, and a little bit of camp have been a winning fundraiser formula for AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS) with its monthly “Drag Queen Bingo.” Held the third Thursday of the month at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston, the games are aptly described as “Not Your Grandma’s Bingo.”

The Bingo nights regularly draw hundreds of people and are a key fundraising source for the organization’s multi-faceted work of providing comprehensive care to people living with an HIV-positive diagnosis or AIDS. The services provided by ACOS include housing and food assistance, education and prevention programs, medical care, and case management.

Its approximately 500 clients include individuals and families who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. A large portion of clients are living well below the federal poverty level, making it difficult to find proper care and support, particularly in the face of a chronic health issue that is still often stigmatized, according to Stephen Hogan Jr., director of development and public information for the non-profit agency.

“AIDS doesn’t discriminate,” he said. “We are here to help all people affected by this disease — whether it’s a single mother with three children or an intravenous drug user in need of housing.”

Hogan said the organization usually chooses different special causes to benefit from the monthly Bingo games and they are given an appropriate accompanying theme. Last week was ‘Bountiful Harvest’ night, and attendees were asked to bring non-perishable food items so Thanksgiving baskets can be made for clients who otherwise will not have a holiday meal.

Torrential rain did not stop more than 300 people from turning out, and long tables set up in the lobby at Rhodes were quickly filled with food donations.

Hogan said that the donations will enable ACOS to deliver holiday dinner baskets to approximately 100 clients. And since it’s not really Thanksgiving without pie, he added a pie-eating contest to the intermission portion of the evening to help raise additional funds. Participants contributed extra donations to face off over pumpkin pies.

It was a messy affair to the delight of the audience, which included people of all ages – many of them regular attendees. (The Bingo nights are held year-round except for July and August.)

Thanksgiving or no Thanksgiving, food is part of the ACOS Bingo tradition since it is picnic style, with people bringing their own refreshments. Some will settle for showing up with just sandwiches or a box of pizza. But many guests choose to bring lavish homemade spreads that include hot appetizers, trays of entrees and platters of homemade desserts

The drag queen hostesses this month were regulars Haley Star and Jealousy Jonz. Jonz opted to participate in the pie eating contest if it meant an additional $500 could be collected for ACOS. The audience responded with humor and generosity. Jonz made a valiant effort but was easily bested by others who faced the challenge with vigor, making it a messy affair to the delight of the audience.

ACOS was founded in 1987 under the name FACTS and was one of 13 original pediatric AIDS programs in the country. It is now the largest and most comprehensive provider of AIDS/HIV services in Rhode Island, according to information on its website.

It cites its vision as “a world with no new HIV infections and that those living with HIV/AIDS do so with support, equality, respect and dignity.”

“We come up with different ideas to keep the Bingo nights fresh and help as many people as possible,” Hogan said. “These nights are about having fun as well as supporting the programs and services we provide.”