Home Lotto out, $100K cash prize in

The Medicine Hat Kinsmen Club is changing things up this year.

Instead of holding the annual Home Lotto, the group is hosting a Big Bag of Cash draw, which will grant one lucky Hatter $100,000.

“The main reason we’re doing the Big Bag of Cash is because of COVID-19 protocols,” said co-chair Steven Pudwell. “We just couldn’t figure out how to make the Home Lotto work this year. We need to get people into the house to see it in person, with the COVID protocols we decided to go in a different direction.

“Masks were another issue we just didn’t want to get involved with, so we simplified things.”

The Big Bag of Cash kicked off on Oct. 15 and the ticket sale cutoff is Dec. 26. The draw is Jan. 2.

“Someone in the community is going to start off next year with $100,000,” said Pudwell.

There are 2,500 tickets for sale for the draw, with each costing $100.

Pudwell did not close the door on the Home Lotto coming back in future years, and said decisions will be made in the future on what to do for major fundraisers.

“So many different groups had to learn how to pivot this year, and that includes service clubs,” he said. “As a volunteer service group, we had to make things easier this year.

“We’re here to serve the greatest needs in our community, and we’re happy to be able to do something this year.”

Pudwell added that the annual 50/50 draw is also taking place, with a guaranteed payout of $20,000.

Tickets for the Big Bag of Cash and the 50/50 draw can be purchased online at www. mhkinsmen.ca. Pudwell says the group hopes to have a table set up at the mall soon to sell tickets in person.