New Hope Apostolic Church holding fundraiser Monday

In order to raise money for a new air conditioning unit and for basement repairs due to flood damage, New Hope Apostolic Church is having a Pasta Day fundraiser at Holiday Village Mall Monday, July 12.

Faith Russette, the daughter of Barbara Preite Russette and Pastor Marvin Russette, handles fundraising and advertising for the church. She said said the air conditioning unit is simply old and needs to be replaced, but significant flood damage resulted in tearing out walls and carpet.

The Pasta Day Fundraiser will start at noon Monday at former Taco John’s in the Holiday Village Mall in Havre and last until the food is gone. The cost will be $8 per plate, which includes a drink and dessert.Banana bread is also being sold for $8 a loaf.

Russette said people who want to attend can go to the mall, located at 1753 U.S. Highway 2 Northwest, and look for the Pasta Day event flyer.

The fundraiser is being put on by the church’s King’s Jewel’s Club and The Ladies ’N’ Youth Group. Russette said fundraisers are what’s keeping the church going.

“We’ve been getting by. These fundraisers are what’s helping keep us afloat. It’s a little rough, our pastor’s wife is still on the list for a liver transplant, and we have our ups and downs but we’re making it. These fundraisers are what keeps us going, so that’s why we do them every so often,” Russette said.

Previously, the church held a fundraiser in conjunction with a Holiday Village craft show to raise money so Barbara Preite Russette could get a liver transplant. Faith Russette said her mother is still in need of the transplant but more money was raised from the taco fundraiser than she expected.

“It was a great success. We made a whole lot more than I thought we were going to, it was a very good success and she was grateful for it. Our pastor was grateful for it. Our church, we love our pastor and his wife and so we like to do anything that we can to help this church succeed and to stay afloat,” Russette said.

For more information about the current fundraising effort, the Pasta Day flyer encourages people to contact Faith Russette at 406-399-0079 or through Facebook Messenger.

“This community means a lot to us. We like to reach out and help people when we can. We pray with people, we sometimes help with groceries, sometimes we help them, you know, we come over and we help them in their housing or you know, whatever they need, we’re always there,” Russette said.

“We like to lend an open hand. Our doors are open for everybody and so whenever somebody needs help, they’re welcome to come in and talk to us. We pray with them and help them in whatever way that we can. It’s our goal is to reach out to people and to help them be successful,” she added.