90 years of Douro Doings
DOURO — The most sought-after prizes in Douro will be raffled off on Monday.
That’s when the Douro Doings are happening, and that’s when the 20 quilts are up for grabs.
“When somebody wins a quilt, they’re so excited. They’re one of the most coveted prizes in the township,” said Debbie Youngman, member of the Women’s Catholic League of St. Joseph’s Parish Hall.
The league organizes the Douro Doings every year as a fundraiser for St. Joseph’s Church in Douro.
Aside from a break during the Second World War, the Doings has run since 1929. It’s now in the 90th year.
The Doings is a day of family activities at Douro Park, followed by a roast beef dinner from 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $16 at the door.
Then it’s time for “The Wheel.” That’s how the handmade quilts are raffled off, in Wheel of Fortunate style.
The league sells 300 tickets at $3 apiece for the quilts – and sometimes there are friendly fights over the last few tickets, Youngman said.
If the league members are lucky and there are tickets to spare, they scoop them up.
Barbara Vollering, who has helped co-ordinate the Doings for more than 50 years, won twice.
She displays the quilts on her spare beds at home.
“If someone is in the bed, the quilt comes off,” said Vollering with a laugh.
Vollering knows just how much work goes into the quilts – she’s a quilter herself – so she likes to preserve them.
It takes the league several months to create 20 quilts and all the ladies’ names are on the back.