Talent of the Hi-Line Fundraiser to be held Saturday

Saturday, The Salvation Army will be holding their annual Talent of the Hi-Line Fundraiser.

The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the theater part of the dinner beginning at 7 p.m.

The performances will include a variety of music including Western, Jazz, Barbershop Quartet, harp and clarinet.

There will also be a lip syncing performance and skit by Disciple Seven and the Master of Ceremonies, T.J. Overcast, will also do his own performance.

The Salvation Army-Havre Service Center, which is dependent on donations, provide for community members who are having challenges finding affordable housing, full-time work or transportation needs. This fundraiser is essential for helping the the residents of the Hi-Line.

Volunteers are vital to this program, as well as donations and fundraisers, such as this one.

This fundraiser will benefit the emergency services provided by The Salvation Army-Havre Service Center. Some of the emergency services that are provided are eviction prevention, emergency utilities assistance, emergency prescription and medical needs, emergency lodging, emergency transportation, school supplies, Christmas assistance, referrals to other agencies, spiritual counseling, which includes aid from local churches, and budget training.

Another program that will benefit from this fundraiser will be the Reintegration into Society Program, also known as RISP.

RISP was started as a pilot program in April 2016 after the Havre Service Center saw that people who were trying to break addictions or get out of legal trouble needed help finding safe housing and support.

RISP uses local resources such as court systems, Hill County Detention Center, local outpatient treatments and churches, as well as teaching participants about having a relationship with God.

The program offers bible studies open to the public on Tuesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. and Life Skills classes Wednesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. Life Skills classes also offer mentoring and discipling Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.

15 people participated in RISP the first year of the actual program when it was implemented in August 2016. Of these 15 participants, five have remained sober for more than 400 days, held down a job, located their own housing and have become more involved in their community through church participation and volunteering.

The Havre Service Center has funding for five slots in RISP with a waiting list of eight people along with weekly requests from people who would like to join the program.

Talent of the Hi-Line Fundraiser will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church at 3003 Old Post Rd. The event is $15 a person if purchased in advance and $20 a person at the door. Advanced tickets can be purchased at The Salvation Army Emergency Service Office, The Barista Coffee Shop, Normans, Havre Ford and The Key in Holiday Village Mall.