By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Attendance was down but raffle ticket sales were up at this year’s Wild Game Dinner and Gun raffle, the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce’s biggest single fundraiser, held Saturday at the Civic Center.
More than 1,000 people squeezed into the Pecan Ballroom while
another 100 enjoyed the festivities in the Red Oak Ballroom, all crossing their fingers they’d be going home owner of one, or even several, of the more than 100 guns raffled off.
The raffle tickets for the 100 guns were $1 apiece, with a handful of other guns won with other drawings held throughout the evening.
Many enjoyed the gourmet meal of wild game, this year featuring venison sausage and backstrap along with pulled pork, but the main draw is the 100-plus guns up for grabs.
“This event is important to our Chamber,” said Blanca Larson, Chamber of Commerce executive director. “This event provides us 10 percent of our annual funding so we can advocate for our businesses as well as build a stronger business climate as we support local businesses. We also give scholarships and give back to our local volunteers as well.”
The event began 33 years ago at Brown Plaza, moved to the Val Verde County Fairgrounds, then the Del Rio International Airport and finally found a home at the civic center.
Members of the Chamber’s Special Projects committee began planning the 2022 version of the event about two weeks after the 2021 version was held.
While the nearly 20 special project committee members provide the core of volunteers, by the first Saturday in December, when the event is held, their numbers grow to more than 100 volunteers.
“We couldn’t do this without the volunteers from throughout the community,” Jimmy Murdoch, a long-time event organizer said.
The largest numbers of volunteers come from Del Rio High School’s Career and Technical Education programs, DRHS Junior ROTC and Laughlin Air Force Base.
“We get amazing community support for this event,” Larson said. “From event sponsors to the several hundred volunteers that make this event happen.”
“Del Rio knows every year, on the first Saturday of December, we are going to host a great night here and give away a lot of guns,” Larson said.
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Contact the author at joelalangton@gmail.com
