Chili cook-off raises $1,941 for children

Long before 6 p.m., people started coming to the Havre Eagles Club for the chili cook-off sponsored by Eagle Riders.

People flocked to help out the Eagle Riders and the Havre High School Key Club which is raising money to support Tia and Candace Kallenberger, sisters who have a disease doctors think might be muscular dystrophy, and Dylan Hendrickson, who is undergoing treatment in Seattle for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Folks filled up their bowls with their choice of chilis. There were nine pots of chili to pick from, each prepared by volunteers.

Behind the table, Donna Tilleman helped serve the chilli, and Brian Carpenter, Eagle Riders Club president, greeted each visitor and jokingly suggested they pick his chili for the People's Choice Award.

One of the first to come through the line were Tia and Candace, making sure to fill their bowls with chili.

The chili cook-off is one of several fundraisers for the families in this week. Key Club members were touched by the families' plight and organized spaghetti feeds and other fundraisers for this weekend at churches throughout the city.

The idea of getting Eagle Riders involved started when the Eagle Riders donated money to Hill County Search and Rescue. That's when Carpenter met John Ita, a search and rescue member and Key Club adviser. Shortly thereafter, Ita asked Carpenter if the club would like to help out with the benefit.

Carpenter said the club was more than willing to pitch in.

"We are involved in a lot of community projects to raise money for people in the community," he said.

"We raised $1,941, more than we expected," and elated Carpenter said at the end of the night.

Frank English of Havre won the Judges' Choice Award, and Emi Moore won the People's Choice Award,

The winners were given $100, but Carpenter said, both winners donated the money back to the cause.

Multiple fundraiser events scheduled

Here is a list of events that will be to raise funds for the Kallenberger and Hendrickson families:

Saturday, Dec. 14

• St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Havre and St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Box Elder will hold a spaghetti supper at 6 p.m, at St. Jude Parish Center.

• Van Orsdel United Methodist will have a collection, 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday during the church's Living Nativity Scene on 5th Avenue.

Sunday, Dec. 15

• First Lutheran Church in Havre will host a Sunday brunch at 10:30 a.m. There will be a free-will offering and spaghetti sauce will be sold.

• Abundant Life Ministries will take up a collection for the families and is encouraging members to go to spaghetti dinners at other churches.

• Havre Assembly of God Church will have a potluck and will have a cupcake exchange at 12:30 p.m. Call Pastor Curt Curtis at 399-0263.

• Community Alliance Church will hold a spaghetti potluck at noon. A free-will offering will be taken up.

• At New Beginning Fellowship, a spaghetti feed will be held after morning service, starting at 1:30 p.m., at the church's meeting place.

• Church of the Nazarene on South Dell will take up free-will donations.

• Fifth Avenue Christian Church will promote the spaghetti feeds and will participate through the Church Benevolent Fund.

• The Ark Church is planning a spaghetti feed, at Beaver Creek Golf Course after the morning service, which begins at 10 a.m. The spaghetti feed should begin around noon, and everyone is invited.