Ever since charity gaming and instant bingo became legal in Ohio in 2004, the Ironton Moose Lodge has used it every year as a way to raise money for all kinds of organizations and charities.

“We’ve raised a little over $40,000 through bingo ticket sales this year,” Bill Sweeney, administrator of the lodge, said. “All of that money will be distributed between 26 different charities with a portion going to Moose Charities in Mooseheart, Illinois.”

The Moose Lodge has bingo everyday that they are open, so they are raising money all the time.

The money will help out all of the schools in Lawrence County except Chesapeake, the Sheriff’s Department, Domestic Violence, the Lawrence County Humane Society, the Ironton police and fire departments, the Ironton Youth Football League and the Friends of Ironton, just to name a few.

Representatives from some of the groups came to the Moose Lodge on Wednesday afternoon to receive their checks.

Ironton Youth Football and the Ironton Fire Department will use their money to buy new equipment. The Friends of Ironton will put theirs toward the Ironton High School turf project, Christmas presents will be bought for the boys of Mended Reeds Boys Home, the humane society will spay and neuter all of the animals at the shelter, the Ironton City Health Department will buy diapers, Tylenol and multi vitamins for those that need it, and Dawson Bryant High School is using their money to fund a veterans memorial in front of the school.

“I want to thank the Moose Club for making this possible,” David Lambert, from the Mended Reeds Boys Home, said. “It really means a lot.”