SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — An annual event in Scranton is helping raise money for local children in need. All you have to do is eat, drink, and game.
All the people at the event have a common goal of spending part of their Sunday at Bartari in Scranton. They are helping raise money for seriously ill and injured children receiving care at Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital.
"All the money from the raffle goes to Children's Miracle Network at Geisinger, as well, as local businesses have donated gift cards and cash, we have a PS5, there's an Apple computer as well, so some really big-ticket items," said Development Specialist with Children's Miracle Network at Geisinger Samantha Hinkle.
Lackawanna College's E-Sports team set up all of the game consoles to live-stream games for the event billed as Quarters for Kids. Money raised through playing pinball machines, basket raffles, and even donations goes to the pediatric hospital.
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"I think it's awesome I think this, it's really cool. We do this every year by the way so it's always getting better and better," said Scranton resident John Howells.
Howells is a Lackawanna College student who has been coming to this event for years.
"I think it's just for the vibe of everything hanging out with people, knowing what we're doing, showing them some games that we are good at teaching a thing and plus just coming out and of course donating and of course the raffles, the raffles are also a big thing," Howells added.
Hinkle who helped organize this says this is a cause near and dear to her.
"My job I like to say that doesn't even feel like work. My family has benefited from Children's Miracle Network dollars. The care that my family as well as multiple families across Northeast PA receive from Geisinger pediatrics is just unmatched," Hinkle continued.
Organizers hoped to top last year's fundraising total of more than twelve thousand dollars.
Quarters for Kids continues until 11:00 p.m. on Sunday at Bartari in Downtown Scranton, so you still have time to have some fun and help a good cause.
