200 attend medical center fundraiser festival

Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson

Hannah Halingstad, 4, from left, and her brothers Ben Halingstad, 6, and Ole Halingstad, 2, all of Chinook, play in the duck-pond carnival game Saturday afternoon during Sweet Medical Center's fundraiser in Chinook. See Friday's Community page for more photographs of the fundraiser.

CHINOOK — Hi-Line residents who are fond of affordable health care — as well as games, music and barbecues — gathered this weekend at the Sweet Medical Center in Chinook to see the recently renovated facility and raise funds for community health.

Saturday's open house festival and barbecue brought more than 200 people to the center and raised more than $5,500 for the center.

"We really appreciate everybody coming out, " Jared Payne, the center's executive director, said. "We had a really great time and hope to do something similar next year.

"It seems like there was a lot going on in the community, so we are really blessed to have 200 people come through. "

The event put a large dent in the amount of money the center has to raise on an annual basis. They are setting up their next fundraiser, a Harlem Ambassadors basketball game co-sponsored with Bullhook Clinic in Havre on Oct. 18, to help meet their total goal.

People interested in tickets to that game, or in contributing in some way, are encouraged to contact Payne at the Sweet Center at either 357-2403 or [email protected], or to contact the Bullhook Clinic at 265-4541.