Nonprofit raffle game gains following as prize pot grows

Since the opening kickoff of football season, a modest Monday-night ritual has turned into a must-attend event at Backwoods Bar and Grill. Between 5 and 7 p.m. each week, patrons pack the rustic venue for the Queen of Hearts raffle, a nonprofit drawing whose swelling prize pot has become the talk of the town. What began as a handful of curious players now fills tables and barstools, the anticipation thick as participants watch the board for the card that could unlock the growing jackpot. Organizers say every ticket purchased fuels both the purse and local charitable efforts, turning an evening of casual fun into a community-driven fundraiser with stakes that rise week after week.