The Niles City B men’s league and the Ladies Night Out leagues will be hosting their fifth annual Raffle for the Youth event this Thursday at Joey Armadillo’s.

The event was designed to raise scholarships for the Niles Four Flags Association area youth bowlers. At the outset of the event, league members were encouraged to bring donations to be raffled off during the course of the league night.

When the first raffle had finished the league had raised a cool $230 to donate for the kids. The Niles City B league secretary Dave Lembke saw the potential that the event held for helping the youth bowlers and the decision was made to make it an annual thing.

“I was inspired by the fact that all the people were giving to the kids. I was kind of a last minute deal and we thought with a little more organization we could do a lot better,” he said.

That has certainly proven to be the case.

Last year alone the raffle brought in $706, which brought its four-year total to just a shade over $1,500. The response has been so great that it’s not just local bowlers helping out anymore.

Many local businesses have started contributing to the cause as well.

One of the biggest contributing businesses is the place holding the event. Joey Armadillo’s proprietor Brett Godsey is optimistic that this year they will raise even more.

“I’m really excited to see our leagues want to help out the kids in the community. This is not something that was ever really talked about, it more came out of the blue. I think it was an amazing gesture by our bowlers and it’s one that we here at Joey’s have just wanted to pick up and run with. We’ve really put a lot of effort toward the event this year and we believe it will show,” Godsey said.

Joey’s lane manager Joel Ealy who also coaches in the youth league said that the effects of this event can be seen everywhere.

“We’ve been doing this for five years now and every year it just seems to get bigger. Bowling is one of those sports where people can advance easier than other sports, so the scholarship money that’s raised through this event goes a long way. The great thing about it is that it really gets everyone involved and in the holiday spirit,” he said.

The raffle tickets will be sold starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday with the actual drawings starting at 7:30. Last year there was 36 draws and the league will draw tickets until everything is gone. The general public is encouraged to come and participate in the event itself. Any donations are welcome.

The leagues would also like to thank Lowry’s Meat Markets of Buchanan, Nate Wines of Dowagiac, O.K. Distributing of Dowagiac, Shelton’s Farm Market of Niles, The Niles Four Flag Association, Applebee’s and Joey Armadillo’s for their contributions this year.

If you or anyone you know would like to donate something, contact Dave Lembke at (269) 470-1714 or Joey Armadillo’s at 687-5555 for details.