CONNECTING NEIGHBORS: Staffers from the Latin American Legal Defense Education Fund (LALDEF) were among those gathered at Princeton Public Library for “Loteria” on October 29.

On October 29, Princeton Human Services hosted “Loteria” Mexican Bingo as part of a postponed Welcoming Week event series, at Princeton Public Library.

Recognizing the importance of building relationships among residents who otherwise may not have opportunities to meet, Princeton Human Services, the Princeton Human Services Commission, and the library collaborated with the help of donors and volunteers to host an event attended by approximately 30 families. Loteria is a tradition of Mexican fairs and similar to bingo, using images on a deck of cards. An additional game of Human Bingo was played at the two-hour event, encouraging participants to talk to new friends and ask them questions about themselves.

Several businesses donated prizes, free giveaways, and food. Among them: the library, Princeton University, McCarter Theatre, Red Umbrella Princeton, Princeton Kindness Food Project, LALDEF, Sustainable Princeton, Olives, Princeton Health Department, LiLLiPiEs Bakery, JaZams, La Lupita, La Mexicana, the YWCA, the Arts Council of Princeton, and Solidaridad. The grand prizes, two bikes, were donated by the Princeton Police Department.