Baderich Spares calls the bingo numbers on the first day of CRC Women Veteran Program Bingo on Wednesday. CRC Women Veteran Program Bingo is held at 134 N. Glenwood Blvd. in Tyler with games scheduled on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with Session 1 being 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Session 2 being 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. The bingo program benefits the Christian Restoration Community Care Program which provides medical transportation to veterans and housing.

A new location for community bingo has opened, and it’s for a good cause. Debra Christian, commander of the District II State of Texas DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Auxiliary, has dedicated her work to the memory of her father and other veterans.

Christian Restoration Community Women Veteran Program Bingo had its grand opening Jan. 24 in the CRC building, 134 N. Glenwood Blvd. The location functions as a place for veterans and community members to gather for fellowship. Proceeds from bingo go toward helping local veterans.

“We are on the ground with our state bingo license,” said Christian.

Christian’s father, an Army veteran, died in 2008. Before his passing, Christian had been hard at work to secure his veteran benefits — even retiring early to help her father.

“It was important to get the benefits he needed,” she said. “As I went to his meetings and became a mouthpiece for him, I found out it was hard for others. If you don’t have a person that is a mouthpiece for you, it’s too hard to get the benefits.”

Because she had experienced the difficulty of securing veteran benefits first hand, Christian decided to revive the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary in Tyler and act as the commander.

But Christian’s help for veterans doesn’t just stop with helping them with benefits; her own home acts as a transition home for newly discharged war veterans who have nowhere to go.

“When he came back, he was always a different man,” said Christian, reminiscing of her father. “They (veterans) need that window of time to come back to civilian life. We should not leave the veterans behind.”

In addition to housing and providing a place for veterans to fellowship, Christian runs a transportation service for local veterans. Because the veterans receive these services free, Christian is looking for a way to alleviate the costs. She says bingo is the perfect way to do that.

On Wednesday, the CRC hosted its first bingo games, with about 20 seniors and veterans in attendance.

Bingo will be running 1-3 p.m. and 5:45-7:45 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The event is open to the public.

Christian said those interested in working in her veteran transportation service can contact her at 903-372-2652 to learn about the qualifications.