How a Spreadsheet Helped Raise $22,000

Meet longtime Gavers volunteer Margie Kersten and discover how the 2026 Barndance Bucket Raffle sold out for the first time, raising approximately $22,000 in the fight against cancer.

For the first time in Barndance history, the Bucket Raffle ran out of something important this year: tickets.

By the end of the night, every raffle ticket had been sold, raising approximately $22,000 to support the fight against cancer.

Behind that success were donated prizes, volunteers, generous guests—and a lot of spreadsheets.

For Bucket Raffle co-chair Margie Kersten, that’s part of what makes Gavers special. You don’t need a flashy talent or a particular kind of experience to make a difference. You simply bring the skills you have and put them to work.

“Wherever you have a skillset or a gift, we’ll use it,” Margie said.

From Longtime Volunteer to Bucket Raffle Co-Chair

Margie has known founder Steve Gavers for about 40 years and attended the very first Barndance. Over the years, she volunteered when she could, often helping the night of the event while raising four children and balancing the demands of life.

About five years ago, she had more time to give and began taking on a larger role. Today, she co-leads the Bucket Raffle with Diane Messman.

The work begins months before Barndance. This year, the team collected approximately 180 donated items and turned them into 102 raffle baskets and packages, ranging in value from $100 to as much as $2,500 for a Louis Vuitton purse.

Margie’s role is largely behind the scenes. She tracks every donor, item, value, and description, organizes the information and prepares the material used in the Barndance program. “I can type and organize a spreadsheet,” she said. “I write a lot for work. That became something I could contribute.”

It may not be the most visible job under the big white tent. But keeping hundreds of donations organized makes the Bucket Raffle possible. And this year, that work helped generate $22,000 for the cause.

Every Gift Has a Place at Gavers

Margie’s experience illustrates something she loves about volunteering with Gavers. Some people are great at asking businesses for donations. Others build baskets, decorate, sell tickets, serve food, park cars, or clean up after the event.

Some volunteers give a few hours. Others give weeks of their time. The point isn’t that everyone contributes in the same way. It’s that everyone has something to contribute.

For Margie, that idea is also rooted in her faith. Life has brought profound loss, including the death of her mother from cancer when Margie was just 18 and, years later, the loss of her aunt and other friends and family members.

Through it all, faith has helped shape the way she sees both life and service. “I have a really strong faith,” Margie said. “That faith tells me that life is worth living. It’s a gift.”

That belief gives added meaning to the time and talents she shares with Gavers. Volunteering is one way to take what you’ve been given—even something as ordinary as an ability to organize information—and use it to help someone else.

Why the “Get Checked” Message Matters

Because cancer has touched Margie’s life many times, Gavers’ “Get Checked” message resonates strongly with her. “There are things about cancer you have no control over,” Margie said. “But you do have control in being proactive and getting the testing.”

She believes raising awareness is just as important as raising money—encouraging people to educate themselves, understand their options and take recommended screenings seriously.

An Event Where Everyone Can Participate

That same spirit of accessibility carries into the Bucket Raffle itself. At the live auction, some guests may generously spend thousands of dollars. But the Bucket Raffle allows someone with only $20 to participate, too.

“If I only have $20 to spend, I can buy raffle tickets and have a chance to win,” Margie said.

That inclusiveness is part of what has made Barndance such an enduring community tradition.

People come in jeans, shorts or cowboy boots. Friends reunite. Families gather. People who have moved away return year after year. And everyone has an opportunity to be part of the mission.

For Margie, that’s ultimately what Gavers is about: people bringing whatever they have and using it for something bigger than themselves. Maybe it’s a donated gift card or a few hours of volunteer time. It might even be the ability to organize a really good spreadsheet.

None of those contributions may seem extraordinary on their own. But put them together, and this year they became $22,000 to help fight cancer.