Where’s the Beef? At the Radio Reading Meat Raffle!
The Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service is excited to invite you to its Third Annual Meat Raffle! Join us on Friday, November 6, 2026 at the Knights Events Center, 2735 Union Road (at William Street) in Cheektowaga. This is our large fundraiser of the year, so please help us serve Western New Yorkers with reading disabilities!
Admission is only $15 presale, $20 at the door, $100 for a table of 8 presale. Admission includes beer, soda pop, and a chance to win thousands of dollars of meat and non-meat raffle prizes (see list below)! Play the 50/50 and Follow the Queen raffles for chances to win cash! No outside alcohol permitted, but bring your own snacks, dollar bills, and a cooler to take home your winnings. Pizza will be available for $2 a large slice. Large-print and braille programs and personal assistants will be available for attendees who request them.
How does a Meat Raffle work?
- Each round, different cuts of meat are available to win – 100 meat prizes will be given away!
- A ticket seller will come to your table every round – no need to get up.
- Buy as many tickets as you want to play that round – more tickets mean more chances to win!
- We’ll spin the barrel to pick several winning numbers – if yours comes up, you win that meat prize for only a few bucks! When we say meat prize, we mean packages of steaks, chicken wings, sausages, turkeys – you name it!
- Keep playing every round to keep winning!
- Available all evening will be Find the Queen (cash prize), 50/50 (cash prize), and basket raffles to win even more prizes – buy those tickets separately at the raffle ticket tables.
We are very appreciative of the many raffle prizes donated!
- GRAND PRIZE: Buffalo Sabres autographed Tage “TNT” Thompson hockey stick (priceless value). Thank you Volunteer Karen Bannister.
- GRAND PRIZE – Seneca Resorts & Casinos: One-night stay at either Seneca Niagara or Seneca Allegany ($200 value) plus a Pacific Gear 30-inch, drop-bottom, rolling duffel bag ($70 value), and women’s hotel spa robe ($35 value).
- GRAND PRIZE – D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre: Flexible season pass of 4 tickets for any 2026-2027 production ($205 value), Salvatore’s Hospitality $50 gift card, Mischler’s Florist & Greenhouses $25 gift card, and DiCamillo Bakery $10 gift card.
More raffle prizes to win:
- Alcohol Merch: Wicker basket full of Bud Light, Captain Morgan, Ciroc, Kettle One, Labatt, and Spiked Minute Maid merchandise ($50 value). Thank you WNYIL’s Christine Hulton.
- Alcohol Merch: Box with a Captain Morgan ball cap, Kettle One drink shaker, Kettle One fan, and Patron drink glasses ($30 value). Thank you WNYIL’s Christine Hulton.
- Alton’s Restaurant: $25 gift certificate.
- Amazon: $50 gift card. Thank you Volunteer Liz Ortel.
- America 250: Large metal American eagle head, metal Land That I Love ribbon, star-spangled salt and pepper shakers, and 4 small American stick flags in a basket ($50 value). Thank you Christine Kowalczyk.
- Audio Heaven: Two dozen audio books, including H.G. Wells, John Grisham, Dominick Dunne, Tuesdays with Morrie, and more ($100 value). Thank you Sharon Grier.
- Baker’s Delight: Large basket of fudge and muffin mixes, pudding, cans of frosting and pie filling, oven mitts, baking utensils, and measuring cups (value $60). Thank you Volunteer Karen Bollman.
- Barnes & Noble: $50 gift card. Thank you Volunteer Liz Ortel.
- Bath & Body Works: Wicker basket of eucalyptus and spearmint aromatherapy products, including exfoliating gloves ($75 value). Thank you Jo Schweitzer.
- Be Inspiralized: Transform vegetables into noodles and enjoy two cookbooks to showcase your delicious food dishes ($90 value)..
- Book Lover: 2 embroidered tote bags, each with a $25 Barnes & Nobel gift card ($90 value). Thank you Jo Schweitzer.
- Buffalo Bills: Computer mouse, mouse pad, 2 bobble heads, and playing cards ($50 value). Thank you Marian Hetherly.
- Buffalo Games: Large selection of sensory games and learning puzzles for children ($100 value).
- Buffalo Improv House: 6 tickets to any comedy show that is not sold out ($125 value).
- Burchfield Penney Art Center: 4 admission passes ($60 value).
- Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra: 2 tickets to “Vaughn Williams and Double Bass” performance November 22 ($140 value). Thank you Jo Schweitzer.
- Butter Fly Away: Large glass-encased decorative flower and butterfly tree with wooden base (value $40). Thank you Volunteer Marilyn Ciancio.
- Christmas Cookies Baking Set: Glass cookie jar full of Christmas cookie cutters, wisk, tongs, spatula, and decorating brush ($40 value). Thank you Volunteer Pat Herweg.
- Christmas Present: Large Christmas-themed box includes holiday cards, garland bells, kitchen towels, salt and pepper shakers, storybook, string lights, and vintage snowman ($70). Thank you Volunteer Sharon Lomison.
- Christmas Stemware: Set of 4 gold and white Christmas-themed mugs in a metal rack (value $30). Thank you Christine Kowalczyk.
- Color Your Bathroom: A wicker basket full of colored mats, flowered shower curtain, soap dishes, candle, and Home Sweet Home towel ($30 value). Thank you Andrew’s Estate Service.
- Drink Up: Bottle of white wine and two wine glasses in a brass container ($30 value). Thank you Andrew’s Estate Service.
- Easter’s Coming: Wicker laundry basket full of stuffed bunny rabbits and Easter eggs ($50 value). Thank you Andrew’s Estate Service.
- Family Fun Pack: McDonald’s $25 gift card and Buffalo Zoo Family Pass ($78 value). Thank you Marian Hetherly.
- Feelin’ Peachy: Three books, warm socks, night light, peach marshmallow body cream, and a peach cobbler Yankee Candle in a polka dot box ($60 value). Thank you Andrew’s Estate Service.
- Fireball Bills: 1.75 liter bottle of Fireball cinnamon whiskey, 2 Buffalo Bills shot glasses, 2 packages of Buffalo Bills popcorn and Buffalo Bills stickers in a glass bucket ($75 value). Thank you NFRRS Board Member Chuck Nellis.
- Gardener’s Delight: Large wicker basket of potting mix, seeds, watering can, gloves, padded kneeler, pruning shears, hand cultivator, and journal ($60 value). Thank you Marian Hetherly.
- Hamburg Hangout: 5 admission tickets to the Hamburg Palace Theatre ($50 value) and a $15 Black Smoke Bourbon Bar gift card.
- Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant & Banquet Facility: $35 gift card.
- Irish Classical Theatre: 2 tickets to Henrik Ibsen’s “Ghosts,” February 26 to March 14, 2027 ($90 value).
- Jack Rabbit: $25 gift card.
- Jim’s SteakOut: $25 gift card.
- Kitty Lover: Basket full of cat foods, treats, toys, a food dish, and mat (value $50). Thank you Volunteer Karen Bollman.
- Lancaster Opera House: 2 tickets to your choice of a 2026-2027 performance ($100 value).
- Lottery Photo Frame: 10 lottery tickets that could win you millions. Thank you WNYIL’s Alanna Pohl.
- Macy’s Place Pizzeria: $50 gift card. Thank you NFRRS Board Member Brian Mendola.
- Magruder’s Pub & Banquets: $20 gift certificate and Magruders t-shirt ($40 value).
- Market in the Square: $45 in gift cards.
- Massage Therapeutic Arts: Relax & Renew 2-hour massage ($150 value.)
- Mighty Taco: $100 in coupons.
- Mulberry Italian Restaurant: $25 gift certificate
- My Mini Deep Fryer: Personal 1.5-quart deep fryer in powder blue ($15 value).
- National Comedy Center: 2 admission tickets ($90 value).
- Nutri Set: NutriSlicer, Nutri Chopper, and cutting board ($60 value). Thank you Jo Schweitzer.
- Oriental Trading: $25 gift certificate.
- Oscillating Fan: 32-inch tower to cool your entire room ($45 value). Thank you Volunteer Peggy Chudzik.
- Pepsi Pack: Pepsi ballcap ($15 value), 12-pack of Pepsi ($10 value), and $25 Nino’s Pizza gift certificate. Thank you Volunteer Pat Herweg.
- Rosina Food Products: $48 in coupons for Italian pasta and meatballs.
- Santora’s Pizza, Pub & Grill: $50 gift card.
- Shea’s Performing Arts Center: 2 tickets to the December 8 opening night performance of “The Sound of Music” ($150 value). Thank you Five Star Bank.
- Shea’s Performing Arts Center: 2 tickets to the February 16 opening night performance of “Death Becomes Her” ($150 value). Thank you Five Star Bank.
- Soothing Relaxation: Gift basket full of pink-themed lotions, soaps, a mug, a weekly planner, and bath items ($100 value). Thank you Andrew’s Estate Service.
- Sports Fan: 1960 Billieve cozi, football bracelet, Allen 17 earrings, Buffalo Sabres cozi, and Buffalo Sabres earrings ($60 value). Thank you Volunteer Pat Herweg.
- Strong Museum of Play: 4 admission tickets ($100 value).
- Texas Roadhouse Cheektowaga: $60 in gift certificates, steak sauce, rib seasoning, steak seasoning, and roasted peanuts. ($100 value)
- Theatre of Youth: 4 tickets to any mainstage production ($100 value).
- Toyland: Large basket featuring balloon animal kit, books, decks of cards, toys, and puzzles for young children ($40 value). Thank you Andrew’s Estate Service.
- Wegmans: $100 gift card.
- Yoga Package: 72-inch mat and extra-large tumbler to keep hydrated ($60 value). Thank you Volunteer Linda Rinella.
All proceeds will support Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service, a 24/7 nonprofit radio station whose team of 140 volunteers produce audio versions of some 80 national and local newspapers, magazines, and best-selling books for our neighbors across the western half of New York State and Southern Ontario who are blind or living with another vision, mobility, or learning disability that makes reading a challenge, such as macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, paralysis, brain or spinal injury, muscular dystrophy, dyslexia, or autism.
Thank you for supporting the Radio Reading mission!