The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a new fundraising initiative to collect profits for significant capital expenses such as the Apparatus Replacement Fund and the new South Station facility.
Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department
File photo
Money will be used for capital expenses
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a new fundraising initiative to collect profits for significant capital expenses such as the Apparatus Replacement Fund and the new South Station facility.
The Queen of Hearts fundraiser will generate profits for the OPVFD to help garner funds for apparatus replacement efforts, which include fire truck, engines and other specialized equipment, and an upgraded and improved South Station.
The Queen of Hearts fundraiser kicked off on Feb. 28. OPVFD President Joe Enste said donors will select an available spot, somewhere between one and 54, on the Queen of Hearts board. A random number generator will choose a player as the winner each week via a Facebook live stream, and that space will be scratched off to reveal either a pay card in the form of a Joker or the Queen of Hearts or a non-pay card. In the case of the latter, the participant will receive $25. If the Joker is revealed, the selected will win $50; if the Queen of Hearts is shown, the player will win 60% of the jackpot. The fire department will receive the remaining 40%.
The raffle will continue until the Queen of Hearts is drawn. Each week that it is not revealed, the pot will roll over and continue to increase in value. Participants must buy new tickets to be eligible for the weekly selections and may purchase as many as they wish.
The Queen of Hearts campaign is conducted at fire departments and nonprofits across the country, Enste said. The idea was presented to the OPVFD Board of Directors last year and members unanimously voted to host it for the Ocean Pines community.
“Research for the idea has been going on for more than six months,” Enste said. “The planning process for this fundraiser included researching what and how other non-profits facilitate similar games. We’ve also had to research and launch a new online platform allowing ticket sales with custom tickets for each chance.”
Additionally, the fire department had to ensure proper paperwork was filed, and player information could be collected appropriately, as winners of $600 or more must pay income tax on the prize amount.
“Our goal is to have at least 100 participants the first week and steadily increase the number as more people in the community learn about the opportunity to win the jackpot,” Enste said. The first week’s prize pool reached $1,000.
The department president said the OPVFD hosts various fundraising activities every year. Last April, they launched their first cash bingo, which sold out leading up to the event. The facility is holding another bingo on April 18. Tickets can be purchased on the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department website for $35 in advance or $45 at the door, provided they are still available.
OPVFD raffles off a vehicle yearly and is still finalizing plans for the 2024 drawing. The department is also selling 4×8 and 8×8 bricks to raise money for the construction of the new South Station building, and the blocks will be used to erect a “unique feature at the station,” Enste said.
The fire department president urged interested community members to secure their tickets for the Queen of Hearts fundraiser online and clicking the “Purchase Today” button. Once selected, buyers will be taken to a different page where they can complete their purchase(s).
The $5 “chances” are available weekly from 9 a.m., Wednesday through 4:30 p.m., Tuesday and only available online. Drawings will be livestreamed at 5:30 p.m. on Facebook every Tuesday, and winners have 14 days to collect their prizes.