By Allison Peck
The winners of the 2026 RSVP Raffle have been announced, with several area residents taking home prizes while helping support children's literacy in the community.
William Songster was the winner of the raffle quilt. Jeffrey Koehn won two tickets to a Nebraska Cornhuskers football game, with the game to be announced, along with $100. Bonnie Smith received two tickets to a Nebraska Cornhuskers volleyball game, also to be announced, and $100. Jan Earley, Ashlee Beckmann and Donna Obermier each won a hand-carved lighthouse.
RSVP thanked the community for its continued support of the annual fundraiser. The organization also recognized Fresh Foods, Ace Hardware, North Platte Hardware and Bomgaars for hosting raffle booths.
Additional thanks were extended to Betty Howlett, Jean Huff, the Flying Needles Quilt Group, the RSVP Advisory Council, Larry Biss, Fraternal Order of Eagles #2839 and Bill Kubes for donating prizes. RSVP also expressed appreciation to the volunteers who staffed the raffle booths and to everyone who purchased tickets.
Proceeds from the annual raffle help fund RSVP's children's literacy program, which provides two new books each year to preschool and elementary students at Head Start, North Platte Public Schools, Our Redeemer Lutheran School and St. Patrick's Catholic School.
This spring, the program distributed 4,122 books to 2,061 students throughout the community.