Cooking and dining together for Haiti

Vernon — Area churches joined together in an ecumenical effort to provide relief for Haiti by holding a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at St. Thomas Episcopal Church onFeb. 27. Organized by the Deacons of Christ Community Church, Highland Lakes, the various churches sold tickets, received donations from local businesses and had members of each church make pots of sauce and meatballs. In what could have turned into mass confusion, everyone worked together harmoniously, organizers report. From the kitchen cooks to the teen servers and the ministers as well, everyone worked to make an evening of food and fellowship for the many diners who turned out to support the cause. Pastor Nik Fontana of McAfee Bible church joined Bill Van Keuren and Stacey Guest of Christ Community Church and Fred Thorwarts of Glenwood Baptist Church to provide dinner music. Pastor Jean Edjir of Glenwood Baptist Church is from Haiti, and was especially grateful for the huge community response. More than $1,600 was raised. Participating churches were: Christ Community Church, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Our Lady of Fatima Church, McAfee Bible Church, St Francis De Sales Church, Glenwood Baptist Church and Holy Counselor Church.