B-5? Got it. I-19? Yep. G-54? Uh-huh. Bingo? Not so much.
That gleeful shout doesn't yield as much excitement for area fire companies, some of which are seeing diminished attendance as the recession hits its patrons.
As a rough economy slims many families' disposable incomes, fewer people are heading out to the charity bingo games and small games of chance.
Many fire companies throughout Franklin County rely on those games as a major revenue source to fill out a significant percentage of the budget.
"Yes, it is declining, especially bingo," Jim Hull, president of Franklin Fire Company, said of his fundraisers. "This year has been a struggle."
He has seen a major decrease in attendance at charity bingo games this year. About 100 fewer people attend each month, spread over 10 bingos per month. That amounts to an overall reduction in revenue of about 10 percent.
Some months this year, the fire company has actually lost money on bingo. Other months it breaks even.
Its small games of chance have continued to deliver a profit, but it is smaller than before.
Fundraisers help cover the company's equipment, apparatus and squad costs.
Hull has used bingo revenue in the past to pay off the company's mortgage. It made its last mortgage payment in January, paying a 30-year loan off in 10 years.
However, the next financial project, the purchase of a $1 million ladder truck, could get slowed down if bingo revenue stays low.
"It is definitely the economy," he said. "We have not changed our program. We're hoping that things will turn around."
Hull said he can see the effect of the economy on the people who continue to attend bingo, as well. Some of them seem to be relying on bingo as a way to boost their paychecks.
"They don't earn as much, so they want to win it back," he said.
Franklin Fire Company conducts its bingos every Wednesday and Saturday, and on the first and third Sundays of each month.
West End Fire and Rescue Chief Randy O'Donnell has also seen bingo revenue trail off, while the Shippensburg company's fund drive has yielded about $8,000 less than last year.
Bingo returns make up about 30 percent of West End's budget.
Attendance used to average between 140 and 150, but dropped to about 90 people several months ago, he said. That number has crept back up over the summer to about 110 or 120, still significantly lower than pre-recession attendance.
O'Donnell puts partial blame on the economy, but noted the increase in bingos across the county as a probable reason for diminished returns. Fire companies are competing with each other for bingo players.
"There are so many bingos in the area," he said. "The area's just saturated with them."
As revenue drops, equipment and maintenance costs are "killing us." The chief sees it as further proof that local governments have to pick up the slack.
The three Shippensburg fire companies -- West End, Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose -- are starting to function as a single emergency services operation, supported by the surrounding townships, Shippensburg University and Shippensburg Borough.
O'Donnell praised them for their contributions and said other municipalities need to do the same for their own emergency responders. The county should step in as well, he said.
Not every fire department that runs bingo games is suffering.
With six bingos per month, Marion Volunteer Fire Company is maintaining its normal revenue amounts, but saw a drop last year.
"We're holding our own," President Dennis Carr said. "That is a large portion of our budget."
The company relies on other fundraisers as well, conducting a golf tournament, a seafood dinner and money drawings, but bingo covers about 80 percent of the budget, according to Jim Buhrman, bingo chairperson.
Bingo provides salaries for the company's two full-time firefighters and its four part-time firefighters, as well as contributing to an engine purchase last year.
At Mont Alto Fire Company, bingo attendance has actually picked up.
According to Bingo Chair Ed Nunemaker, creative crowd-drawing measures have boosted attendance from an average of around 100 to a current attendance between 130 and 150.
"We like to give back to the people who support us," Nunemaker said, thanking his regular team of bingo helpers. They give discounts, giveaways and special payouts that other fire companies do not offer.
Despite the increase in attendance at Mont Alto's bingos, avid players say they see the effect of the economy at other companies' tables.
Linda Carbaugh of South Mountain is a regular player at Mont Alto and other fire companies' bingos, attending about three per week at venues around the county. She has seen attendance dwindle elsewhere.
"People just don't have the money," Carbaugh said. "People prioritize where they put their money. A majority (of bingos) have less (of a crowd) than before."
"There are fewer people other places," said Dolores Falcone, Greenvillage, who has been attending Mont Alto bingo for 20 years.
She doesn't think the economy is stopping people from attending -- more likely it is anti-smoking rules. She keeps coming to Mont Alto for reasonable prices and higher payouts, as well as a friendly atmosphere.
That gleeful shout doesn't yield as much excitement for area fire companies, some of which are seeing diminished attendance as the recession hits its patrons.
As a rough economy slims many families' disposable incomes, fewer people are heading out to the charity bingo games and small games of chance.
Many fire companies throughout Franklin County rely on those games as a major revenue source to fill out a significant percentage of the budget.
"Yes, it is declining, especially bingo," Jim Hull, president of Franklin Fire Company, said of his fundraisers. "This year has been a struggle."
He has seen a major decrease in attendance at charity bingo games this year. About 100 fewer people attend each month, spread over 10 bingos per month. That amounts to an overall reduction in revenue of about 10 percent.
Some months this year, the fire company has actually lost money on bingo. Other months it breaks even.
Its small games of chance have continued to deliver a profit, but it is smaller than before.
Fundraisers help cover the company's equipment, apparatus and squad costs.
Hull has used bingo revenue in the past to pay off the company's mortgage. It made its last mortgage payment in January, paying a 30-year loan off in 10 years.
However, the next financial project, the purchase of a $1 million ladder truck, could get slowed down if bingo revenue stays low.
"It is definitely the economy," he said. "We have not changed our program. We're hoping that things will turn around."
Hull said he can see the effect of the economy on the people who continue to attend bingo, as well. Some of them seem to be relying on bingo as a way to boost their paychecks.
"They don't earn as much, so they want to win it back," he said.
Franklin Fire Company conducts its bingos every Wednesday and Saturday, and on the first and third Sundays of each month.
West End Fire and Rescue Chief Randy O'Donnell has also seen bingo revenue trail off, while the Shippensburg company's fund drive has yielded about $8,000 less than last year.
Bingo returns make up about 30 percent of West End's budget.
Attendance used to average between 140 and 150, but dropped to about 90 people several months ago, he said. That number has crept back up over the summer to about 110 or 120, still significantly lower than pre-recession attendance.
O'Donnell puts partial blame on the economy, but noted the increase in bingos across the county as a probable reason for diminished returns. Fire companies are competing with each other for bingo players.
"There are so many bingos in the area," he said. "The area's just saturated with them."
As revenue drops, equipment and maintenance costs are "killing us." The chief sees it as further proof that local governments have to pick up the slack.
The three Shippensburg fire companies -- West End, Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose -- are starting to function as a single emergency services operation, supported by the surrounding townships, Shippensburg University and Shippensburg Borough.
O'Donnell praised them for their contributions and said other municipalities need to do the same for their own emergency responders. The county should step in as well, he said.
Not every fire department that runs bingo games is suffering.
With six bingos per month, Marion Volunteer Fire Company is maintaining its normal revenue amounts, but saw a drop last year.
"We're holding our own," President Dennis Carr said. "That is a large portion of our budget."
The company relies on other fundraisers as well, conducting a golf tournament, a seafood dinner and money drawings, but bingo covers about 80 percent of the budget, according to Jim Buhrman, bingo chairperson.
Bingo provides salaries for the company's two full-time firefighters and its four part-time firefighters, as well as contributing to an engine purchase last year.
At Mont Alto Fire Company, bingo attendance has actually picked up.
According to Bingo Chair Ed Nunemaker, creative crowd-drawing measures have boosted attendance from an average of around 100 to a current attendance between 130 and 150.
"We like to give back to the people who support us," Nunemaker said, thanking his regular team of bingo helpers. They give discounts, giveaways and special payouts that other fire companies do not offer.
Despite the increase in attendance at Mont Alto's bingos, avid players say they see the effect of the economy at other companies' tables.
Linda Carbaugh of South Mountain is a regular player at Mont Alto and other fire companies' bingos, attending about three per week at venues around the county. She has seen attendance dwindle elsewhere.
"People just don't have the money," Carbaugh said. "People prioritize where they put their money. A majority (of bingos) have less (of a crowd) than before."
"There are fewer people other places," said Dolores Falcone, Greenvillage, who has been attending Mont Alto bingo for 20 years.
She doesn't think the economy is stopping people from attending -- more likely it is anti-smoking rules. She keeps coming to Mont Alto for reasonable prices and higher payouts, as well as a friendly atmosphere.
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