A small group of about 30 braved the rain to celebrate the new
year at Johnny’s Bar and Grill and raise $1,200 for the Emmaus
House project.
In its fifth year, Johnny’s held a poker run and raffle to raise
money for a local cause.
A small group of about 30 braved the rain to celebrate the new year at Johnny’s Bar and Grill and raise $1,200 for the Emmaus House project.
In its fifth year, Johnny’s held a poker run and raffle to raise money for a local cause.
The event is held on New Year’s Day to help owners Charisse Tyson and Thomas Horsfall celebrate the anniversary of buying the bar. Thursday marked their eighth anniversary.
“About 30 people managed to raise $1,200,” Tyson said. “They just kept buying those raffle tickets.”
Cost to participate in the poker run was $20, which included a meal and drink. Because of the rain, the poker run was held inside the bar, Tyson said.
Raffle tickets were sold $1 each or an arm’s length for $20. Sales from the raffle totaled $705, Tyson said.
Pastor David Rodriguez, one of the founders of the Emmaus House project, purchased prizes for the raffle, including a leather jacket, helmets, gloves and a battery charger. Most of the food was donated by customers, Tyson said.
“Thirty of my best customers made this whole thing a success,” she said.
Agencies that have benefited from the fund-raiser include the YMCA and Community Pantry.
Last year, the event raised around $2,000, Tyson said, attributing the decrease this year to the bad weather.
“Last year, we had a lot of out-of-towners. With the rain, it just kept everybody home,” she said.
The Emmaus House, a local shelter for battered women and children, is set to have its first family move in Easter Sunday. The facility will need around $100,000 a year to operate.
“We know they really need money at the Emmaus House,” Tyson said.
All the construction costs are covered, but officials are developing programs.
“This will help us hire people to run the programs,” said Rodriguez, chairman of the board of directors and pastor at First Presbyterian Church.
