By Trent Modglin

The genesis of Bingo Buddies all started when Joseph Steinfels used to visit a friend at the Summit of Uptown, the senior/assisted living facility here in Park Ridge, and recognized that the residents could use a bit of energy and frivolity that only children can provide.

As a Cub Scout troop leader, Steinfels brought up the idea of hosting intermittent Bingo outings. And with the Summit’s staff in full support, the event launched last spring and quickly grew to include local Park Ridge Wilderness Scouts & Princesses tribes and other youth participants. Needless to say, it’s become a popular monthly staple on the Summit’s event calendar too.

The past several iterations have involved 20-30 local children who sit at the tables with elderly Summit residents and — you guessed it — play Bingo together. They typically get through around 15 games in an hour and a half, taking breaks to ask trivia questions and provide discussion topics geared toward generating a little banter between generations. They also play a few rounds of Know Your Neighbor, a fun game created by Park Ridge’s own Sara Horak, as a way to break the ice at each table, where it’s not uncommon for a 75- or 80-year age gap to exist between Bingo competitors.

The oldest Bingo Buddies participant to date? Try 102.

“What’s really rewarding is to see the Summit residents getting down to the Bingo room early and waiting for the kids to arrive,” Steinfels tells me with a smile. “They only know each other from this experience, but they remember each other. And that’s the cool part.”

They also play a few rounds of trivia and Know Your Neighbor, a fun game created by Park Ridge’s own Sara Horak, as a way to break the ice at each table, where it’s not uncommon for a 75- or 80-year age gap to exist between Bingo competitors.

Some of the returning kids even bring artwork or hand-written cards for their Bingo buddies. And both sides make a habit of policing each other’s Bingo cards to make sure no numbers were missed. After all, with all the activity and conversation happening, it’s easy to get distracted no matter if you served in Vietnam in the 1960s or get served hot lunch at Washington Elementary.

Prizes, which are now often sponsored by local businesses, run the gamut from footballs to chocolate bars and Florida oranges. When a Summit resident wins, the kids run up to grab the prize box and bring it back to their table to make it easier for them to pick something out.

“This was designed as a way of bringing the world — and some youthful energy — back to these residents, and there’s been a real receptiveness to it. … It’s such a neat experience.” — Joseph Steinfels

“This was designed as a way of bringing the world — and some youthful energy — back to these residents, and there’s been a real receptiveness to it,” Steinfels says, adding that leadership at the Summit has been very supportive and provides snacks and hot chocolate. “For some, this is the highlight of their Saturday, or maybe their whole week. … It’s such a neat experience.”

Interested in having your kids, or perhaps a team or other youth organization participate? Information about upcoming Bingo Buddies is posted in advance on local social media channels and by the Summit, and is open to all and very family friendly.

The next Bingo Buddies events are Saturday, March 8 from 2-3:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 27 from 3-5 p.m. at the Summit of Uptown. Register here or email Joseph at [email protected] for more information