The Friends of Los Alamos Cemetery is hosting a Bingo & Silent Auction fundraising event on March 21 to support construction of a dedicated Bereavement Center at the historic Los Alamos Cemetery.
Currently, bereaved families must make final arrangements for their loved ones inside the equipment shed at the cemetery, at 4777 Drum Canyon Road.
The proposed Bereavement Center will provide a dignified space with electricity, Wi-Fi and an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restroom trailer.
The project has received full support from the cemetery board, and the nonprofit organization will soon submit a proposal to the Santa Barbara County Planning & Development Department.
“We invite the community to join us for this important fundraising event,” said Mike Terry, board president of Friends of Los Alamos Cemetery (FOLAC).
“Your generous donations will help us create a space where families can be compassionately cared for during difficult times.”
The FOLAC Bingo & Silent Auction begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club, at 429 Leslie St. in Los Alamos.
Tickets are $25, which includes 15 bingo games with all-cash prizes, a silent auction, and a hot chicken sandwich from Los Alamos Market along with soda and chips.
The community is also invited to attend upcoming events at the cemetery, including a Memorial Day service at 11 a.m. May 26 and a Día de los Muertos Mass on Nov. 2.
FOLAC is dedicated to improving and maintaining the 149-year-old cemetery, including regular landscaping and maintenance of the grounds, hosting commemorative events, and fostering community engagement through educational initiatives about local history.
Board members are president Mike Terry, secretary Eric Anches, treasurer Mary Anne Christensen and directors Gabriel Bustamante, Mary Caldera and Greg Saunders.
Click here for more information about Friends of Los Alamos Cemetery, or click here to make an online donation.