Hometown Christmas Tab 2020

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2020

November 2020

HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS

Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper

Christmas HOMETOWN HAVRE, MT 2020

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE

HAVRE DAILY NEWS

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Community Events & Holiday Fun

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November 2020

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COVID-19 pandemic complicates holiday celebrations tions also have been impacted.

M a ny eve n t s n o r m a l l y h e l d f ro m Thanksgiving through Christmas have been modified or canceled.

The Havre Daily News reached out to organizers of events to try to find what plans have been set, although final deci-

sions on some events still have not been made.

This special section details what the Havre Daily News has been able to confirm by printing deadline for this section. Watch for updates on other events in The Havre Daily News.

Groups and organizations with Christmas events not listed in this publication, or which make decisions on events after printing deadline for this edition, can contact Managing Editor Tim Leeds at 265-6795 ext.

14 or via email at tleeds@havredailynews. com.

of positive cases in the community and the unknown asymptomatic people, the burden of getting people sick is just too great.”

The Havre Community Thanksgiving The dinner, which was begun and paid for Dinner has been canceled for the the first by an anonymous donor in 1981 and averages time in its nearly 40-year history due to the 150 volunteers a year, is free of charge and recent surge of COVID-19 was intended to bring peoin area. ple in the community Dinner Chair Debi to ge t h e r re g a rd l e s s o f Rhines said the decision to means or circumstances. cancel the dinner, held at “I don’t know when it the St. Jude Parish Center gained momentum, but it e v e r y y e a r, w a s a n became an annual event, extremely difficult one and here we are, almost 40 given the event’s mission to years later,” Rhines said. bring the community She said that when she together, but for the sake of started as chair of the event Dinner organizer Debi Rhines eve r yo n e ’s s a f e t y s h e she was given a mission believes this is the right statement that said the thing to do. point of the project was to “We’ve done it in snow, we’ve done it in provide a Thanksgiving dinner with all the freezing rain, we’ve had the dinner when it trimmings for everyone, young, old, rich, was 60 degrees outside. ... It’s always been poor, singles, couples, and families, and to on,” she said. “But this year, with the surge bring the community together as a family.

Rhines said it is a beautiful event that she looks forward to every year.

“For me it doesn’t feel like work, it’s enjoyable because there are always so many people who have a can-do, will-do kind of attitude,” she said. “To me, it’s a great community event.”

She said early in November that she and the event’s other organizers originally considered running the event by delivery, but since the surge of positive cases in the county the event has become untenable.

Rhines said she’s received many messages saying people would support her decision, but it was still an extremely difficult choice to make.

She said there’s a statement she’s seen on social media that she thinks is very powerful and sums up her feelings about the situation.

“We’re all separated so that when we come back no one is missing,” she said.

Unfortunately, there are those in the community for whom that is no longer possible, she said, but the point the statement makes is still true.

In a press release, Rhines and the anonymous donor said the plan is to resume the dinner in the future.

“We hope and pray you will be at our table next year to share fellowship and the same full-course traditional holiday meal that has attracted many people from all walks of life for decades,” the release said.

“Until next year, keep your circles small, stay home when needed, practice social distancing, wash your hands often, wear your masks, and always love your neighbors. God willing, we will all be available next year to carry out the mission of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner as we collectively love giving back to our community.”

Tim Leeds tleeds@havredailynews.com

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a tumultuous year for activities, with many canceled, rescheduled or modified to allow for social distancing, and holiday celebra-

Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner canceled for the first time Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com

We’re all separated so when we come back no one is missing

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HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS

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Kremlin residents continue to help families for the holidays Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Though the residents of Kremlin won’t be holding a community celebration for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, they are continuing with another annual tradition to help families in need — because finding a way to help others, one organizer said, is what small-town residents do.

“This year, I don’t know of anyone even having a gathering in their homes, just to be safe,” said Judy Gomke, Kremlin resident and member of the Kremlin

Homemakers organization, but, she added, the community is doing its annual holiday gift baskets to families in need — one at Thanksgiving and the other at Christmas.

The Kremlin Homemakers find a family in need in the county, then the group organizes a community drive to gather donations for a food basket that provides a full holiday meal to the recipient family, including turkey at Thanksgiving — or a ham for Christmas — and all the fixings and dessert.

“It’s more than just a meal, though,” Gomke said.

Because so many community members pitch in for the giveaway, they end up providing the family with extra food for all the day’s meals and beyond, toiletries and a variety of other everyday items a household can use. The gift basket was delivered Monday to give the family time to thaw the turkey.

Ag Wise Inc., which Gomke said has the distinction of being Kremlin’s only town business, donates the Thanksgiving turkey every year, but the rest comes from people giving from their family to another in need.

That’s the way of small communities, to

pitch in to help one another, she added.

“If you haven’t lived in a small community, you haven’t seen how important it is for everyone to contribute,” she said.

This extends beyond the dinner table, as well, with neighbors helping with snow removal from streets, driveways and walkways, having a volunteer fire department that does more work than just put out fires, maintaining the town park, which is something the homemakers club does, and filling all manner of needs that arise.

“I think that’s really the way it’s done in all small towns,” Gomke said.

hosting a food drive through next week.

They are asking for people to bring Thanksgiving dinner items such as instant mashed potatoes, gravy packets, stuffing, cranberries and canned veggies and fruit.

The food collected from this drive will go to the Havre High food pantry and will help families at the school with Thanksgiving dinners. Key Club provides four families with entire Thanksgiving dinners every year and any left-over items go into the food pantry to help students for the rest of the year.

The Key Club will also be doing their annual Christmas wrap fundraiser to raise funds to take Havre High families shopping for Christmas, Key Club Advisor Heather Haney said.

Highland Park Early Primary School will be creating Christmas videos for each class in lieu of the usual Christmas concerts put on by the students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The videos will be posted to parents via the online learning platform SeeSaw, Principal Mark Irvin said.

Lincoln-McKinley Primary School does not have any events planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. Jude Thaddeus School is not holding the usual Christmas programs this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many teachers are putting together YouTube videos of their classes singing Christmas Carols. The school is also attempting to hold the annual food drive during Advent. More information

will be released as plans are finalized said Principal Mike Haugen.

Area schools adjust their Christmas seasons to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions Kimberly Bolta photos@havredailynews.com A re a s c h o o l s h ave a d j u s t e d t h e i r Christmas season events to adapt to requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following are events held by some schools which The Havre Daily News was able to confirm by the printing deadline for this special section.

Some schools were not able to confirm their Christmas season plans with replies to requests for information from The Havre Daily News

Havre The Key Club at Havre High School is

Turner Turner public schools does not have any events planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Hopefully, we can just continue to attend school in person for as long as possible,” said Turner Public Schools Superintendent Tony Warren.

North Star All North Star Schools Christmas events w i l l b e d o n e v i r t u a l l y t h i s ye a r Superintendent Bart Hawkins said. The schools will have them available on the NFHS channel during the week prior to Christmas.

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Havre food basket program continues in a virtual year Chamber Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com

The Salvation Army’s Havre is again working with the Havre Community Food Bank to hand out food baskets to low-income and needy families during the holidays.

Salvation Army Havre’s Social Services Director Trina Crawford said this year’s food basket program is different due to COVID-19, with people signing up virtually instead of in person.

Sign-up for the Thanksgiving food baskets ended Nov. 16, and the deadline to sign up for the Christmas basket is Dec. 14.

Crawford said people who sign up and don’t receive an email with a confirmation of completion and a pick-up time for their basket need to get in touch with the organization immediately so they can get their applications completed.

Despite the complications of this unusual year, she said many things about this year’s food basket program excite her, including the use of this virtual sign-up system despite it’s current issue.

“I love it because it gives people options,” she said, “They can just sign up in their living rooms.”

She also said she’s happy that this year food baskets can be provided for two major holidays not just one.

“What’s cool this year is that, for the first time in a lot of years, we’re going to be able to offer a Thanksgiving basket and a Christmas basket,” she said.

Havre Community Food Bank Director Alma Garcia said the food boxes themselves will also contain new food items, which she said is great during this time of increased need.

“We have a lot to give this year,” she said, “... so the boxes are going to be a bit bigger so we can move a lot of these donations out to families where it belongs.”

She said extra funds from the CARES Act and the Hometown Hunger Fundraiser run in association with Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods have made this possible. Given the times, the layoffs and the shut-downs and all that, Crawford said she believes more people will be in need this year than most.

Crawford said people looking to sign up for the program can go to https://www.saangeltree.org .

When they go to the the site, they will be asked for an invitation code, she said, but people should click “no” code and then enter the Havre Zip code, 59501.

Crawford said to sign up, people will need a photo ID for the adult completing the application, their Social Security card and all household members’ proof of residential address, as well as a proof of income.

She said people also looking to sign up for the Angel Tree program, formerly called Giving Tree, should also have gift ideas for the children — 12 or younger — the program provides gifts to during Christmas.

Both of these programs consider families who have incomes up to 125 percent above the poverty level, and the sign-up deadline for the Giving Tree program is Dec 3.

Crawford said the organization is also running its Adopt a Family program that allows people to get gifts for an entire family along with providing a food basket anonymously.

Garcia said the food bank was working on other programs this holiday season including participating in Town Pump’s Be a Friend in Deed, Help Those in Need, in which Town Pump matches funds donated dollar for dollar up to a $10,000 for Havre donations, is also still going on.

She said HRDC is trying to raise $10,000 by the end of the month The deadline to donate is Monday, and donations can be made at Town Pump or HRDC.

have any major Christmas-related events this year due to the pandemic.

The Chippewa Cree Tribe, via their official Facebook page, said pandemic-related restric-

tions and general anxiety over the virus are both factors in the cancelation of events.

“Due to COVID restrictions and concerns there aren’t any (major events) planned at this time,” they said.

Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation has seen multiple lockdowns due to COVID-19 since the beginning of the year and still has significant restrictions in place as the surge of cases continues in Hill County.

Rocky Boy cancels Christmas events due to COVID pandemic Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com

Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation will not

Havre Area Chamber still holding some Christmas activities

Kimberly Bolta photos@havredailynews.com

Havre Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its Super Certificate drawings Dec. 5 during the Community Christmas Tree Lighting on Facebook live. There will be four baskets, and each will be valued at over $300.

Registration slips will be collected by 3:00 p.m. Dec. 4 and people must collect their prizes

by Dec. 9.

The Chamber is also running a receipt sweepstakes. If people shop at any Chamber members business a picture of the receipt can be sent to the Chamber to be entered in the sweepstakes. If a picture is posted of the item purchased to Facebook and the business and the Chamber are tagged the person gets a second entry. Prizes are worth up to $200.

The Chamber is also having the community decorate wooden ornaments for the Town Square Community Christmas Tree. The ornaments can be picked up at participating locations, then people can decorate them and then return them to the Chamber or place them on the Town Square Christmas tree by Dec. 5.

again offers Christmas Cash to local holiday shoppers The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce is continuing a tradition of helping people with holiday shopping and keeping cash in the local community.

Holiday shoppers can secure a Christmas Cash loan at participating lending institutions. The Christmas Cash can then be used at 48 Chamber member businesses.

Interest-free Christmas Cash Loans from $500 to $1,500 became available, with approved credit, this month at Independence Bank, Stockman Bank and Bear Paw Credit Union.

The program has had significant impact on the economy over the past years by keeping more than $7 million dollars in Havre, supporting local businesses. Close to $150,000 was loaned last year.

“Using local businesses for holiday shopping is a great way to support the community. These small business owners are the heart of the city and are deserving of your business,” the chamber said.

The mission of the program when first initiated in 1990 was to stimulate the local economy during the holiday by keeping money in town, supporting the local businesses. This is still the goal today.

“We need to thank the community for using and supporting the C h a m b e r ’s C h r i s t m a s C a s h Program these past 29 years,” the Chamber said. “Also, a thank you goes out to the participating financial institutions, Bear Paw Credit Union, Independence Bank and Stockman Bank, for continuing to be our partner in providing this program to the community and to the businesses that participate in the Chamber’s Christmas Cash program. Let’s make the 30th year another successful year for the program.”

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Boys & Girls Club Festival of Trees goes virtual this year Status of other holiday events uncertain Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line is holding it’s annual Festival of Trees fundraiser this year, albeit in a very different form with the event being held virtually.

Other events for the Christmas season were up in the air by printing deadline for this section.

Club Marketing and Events Director Krystal Steinmetz said the gala is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, typically drawing between 200 and 250 people, and was a great event to participate in.

“We’d have food, appetizers, desert and it would be a super-fun evening for everybody,” she said.

The event normally is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, along with the Havre Community Tree Lighting, the Polar Plunge Special Olympics Montana fundraiser and other events.

This year, the Festival of Trees is being held virtually, with an online auction that started Tuesday and runs through Saturday.

The trees can be seen and bid on at the auction site at www.bgchavre.givesmart. com .

Steinmetz said, the event still has a lot of

support from the community as evidenced by all the moral support she received when the club was considering canceling it.

“We’d actually considered canceling the event entirely this year, just knowing how 2020 has been a challenge for so many people and businesses ... but we had community members who asked about the event and when we said we were considering canceling it they were so encouraging and urged us to have it and that’s why we continued to have it,” she said.

She said so many generous people are in the community that have seen the work the club has been able to do this year with COVID-19 and the desire to support it is still there and the club is fortunate to have their support.

The auction is being held Tuesday, Nov. 24 at noon beginning with the ultimate winner drawing, back by popular demand, Steinmetz said, at https://www.bghavre.givesmart.com .

She said 150 ultimate winner tickets, which sold out last year, are available for $50 each, with the winner able to pick whichever tree desired.

If fewer than 100 tickets are sold the Ultimate Winner drawing will be held as a 50/50 raffle.

The winner and the results of the online auction will be announced Saturday.

The club staff is considering holiding a few themed parties for the holidays but are taking it day by day and assessing the COVID-19 pandemic effects.

The club does not yet know if it will be holding its annual lunch with Santa event this year.

MSU-Northern’s Community Orchestra, Choir, not holding Christmas events Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com MSU-Northern’s Community leader head Angela Part said the choir will not be holding any Christmas-related events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pratt said this is because the university wouldn’t let the choir hold practices.

“We’re missing it pretty hardcore,” she said.

MSU-Northern’s Community Orchestra will also not be holding any events.

Pianos and Pipes concert canceled Tim Leeds tleeds@havredailynews.com The annual holiday Piano and Pipes concert hosted by First Lutheran Church is canceled for this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Chamber plans on holding tree lighting via Facebook Eagles work to hold Christmas events during the pandemic Havre Area Chamber of Commerce will continue annual the tree lighting ceremony, although it will look different this year, Chamber Executive Director Julea Robbins said.

Normally, the tree lighting ceremony is an in-person event taking place on Thanksgiving weekend. It is usually held in Town Square and includes Santa and Mrs. Clause. Santa talks to the children and then lights the Town Square tree.

Havre High School’s choir is normally in attendance as well, leading in caroling.

Havre Chamber does a drawing for super certificate baskets and for kids baskets at this gathering, which also features drinks and snacks like baked goods and hot chocolate.

It, along with other events like the SubZero SuperHero Polar Plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line’s Festival of Trees traditionally are held the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

This year, the Havre tree-lighting event will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event normally has 150-200 guests, which violates Hill County Health Board’s restrictions of gatherings, limited to 25 people or less.

The Chamber plans to hold the on Facebook Live Dec. 5 and the Chamber is not sure what that will look like yet, Robbins said.

Havre Daily News/file photo Santa and Mrs. Claus read the winners name out for the quad runner raffle during the 2019 Community Tree Lighting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce will hold the tree lighting Saturday, Dec. 5, via Facebook live this year. The Chamber Super Certificate drawing will be held the same day.

Big Sandy Christmas Stroll canceled

Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com

The annual Big Sandy Christmas Stroll has been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Havre Daily News/file photo Hundreds of community members fill the Havre Eagles Club Wednesday and eat a turkey Christmas dinner together at the 2019 Havre Community Christmas Dinner. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the dinner this year, with organizers requiring people to pick up their meal but leave the club, to adhere to social distancing restrictions. Delivieries still will be made for the dinner.

Kimberly Bolta photos@havredailynews.com

Kimberly Bolta photos@havredailynews.com

Organizers of the stroll, which regularly includes a parade, vendor and crafts sales, fundraising meals and a variety of competitions, said that they are focusing their efforts into having a bigger event next year.

Havre Eagles Aerie 166 is trying to host the annual Havre Community Christmas dinner with restrictions to enable health requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Eagles are working with the Hill County Health Department to be sure they are following the Hill County guidelines.

The Jaycees, Montana Hammers, and many community volunteers will be helping at the event, including delivering dinners to people’s homes. The dinner orders can be called in to the North Central Senior Center at 265-5464 after Thanksgiving until Dec. 24 at 3 p.m.

The dinners that will be served at the Eagles will be given out practicing social distancing. People will come in and get the number of plates they need and then exit the club via the side door. There will not be a gathering due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“We feel we got to do the dinner because there are a lot of people out there that really need it this year,” said Eagles Club Manager Tom Farnham.

The Women’s Auxiliary is hosting the Eagles annual toy drive. The drop-off sites are at Walmart, North 40, Ben Franklins, Old Station Brewery, The Eagles Club and Gary & Leo’s IGA. The boxes are out for new toys for children ages 1-14 and all donations will benefit a child in need in this community. The boxes will be out until Dec. 20th.

Harlem Christmas Stroll and related events canceled Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Harlem will not be holding its town-wide Christmas Stroll or related events and fundraisers this year.

Havre-Hill County Library hay ride canceled Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com

Havre-Hill County Library Director Rachel Rawn said this year’s annual Hay Ride has been canceled due to the pandemic.

“I just don’t know how we would do it,” Rawn said.

She said, from a safety perspective, it’s just not a good idea to have people who don’t know each other packed together in a sleigh during the pandemic.

Dec. 10, The Eagles and Friends, the Eagle Riders and Auxiliary members are holding a donation drive. They start at the

Eagles and go around to local businesses to hand out candy canes and raise money for the toy drive as well.

The people doing the drive last year had a good time.

“We had on our Santa Hats and had a lot of fun raising the donations,” Eagle’s Club Auxiliary President Candice Dess said.

The Eagles children’s Christmas party will be held Sunday Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. It will resemble the Halloween party and follow the Hill County guidelines for the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Eagles will also be hosting the adopt a family event. To adopt a family, p e o p l e c a n c o n ta c t C a n d i c e D e s s o r Heather Sinclair at 262-0498.

Volunteers are always needed for all events, and people can contact the Eagles for details on volunteering.

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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper

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HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS

Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper

Chamber plans on holding tree lighting via Facebook Eagles work to hold Christmas events during the pandemic Havre Area Chamber of Commerce will continue annual the tree lighting ceremony, although it will look different this year, Chamber Executive Director Julea Robbins said.

Normally, the tree lighting ceremony is an in-person event taking place on Thanksgiving weekend. It is usually held in Town Square and includes Santa and Mrs. Clause. Santa talks to the children and then lights the Town Square tree.

Havre High School’s choir is normally in attendance as well, leading in caroling.

Havre Chamber does a drawing for super certificate baskets and for kids baskets at this gathering, which also features drinks and snacks like baked goods and hot chocolate.

It, along with other events like the SubZero SuperHero Polar Plunge fundraiser for Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line’s Festival of Trees traditionally are held the Saturday following Thanksgiving.

This year, the Havre tree-lighting event will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event normally has 150-200 guests, which violates Hill County Health Board’s restrictions of gatherings, limited to 25 people or less.

The Chamber plans to hold the on Facebook Live Dec. 5 and the Chamber is not sure what that will look like yet, Robbins said.

Havre Daily News/file photo Santa and Mrs. Claus read the winners name out for the quad runner raffle during the 2019 Community Tree Lighting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce will hold the tree lighting Saturday, Dec. 5, via Facebook live this year. The Chamber Super Certificate drawing will be held the same day.

Big Sandy Christmas Stroll canceled

Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com

The annual Big Sandy Christmas Stroll has been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Havre Daily News/file photo Hundreds of community members fill the Havre Eagles Club Wednesday and eat a turkey Christmas dinner together at the 2019 Havre Community Christmas Dinner. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the dinner this year, with organizers requiring people to pick up their meal but leave the club, to adhere to social distancing restrictions. Delivieries still will be made for the dinner.

Kimberly Bolta photos@havredailynews.com

Kimberly Bolta photos@havredailynews.com

Organizers of the stroll, which regularly includes a parade, vendor and crafts sales, fundraising meals and a variety of competitions, said that they are focusing their efforts into having a bigger event next year.

Havre Eagles Aerie 166 is trying to host the annual Havre Community Christmas dinner with restrictions to enable health requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Eagles are working with the Hill County Health Department to be sure they are following the Hill County guidelines.

The Jaycees, Montana Hammers, and many community volunteers will be helping at the event, including delivering dinners to people’s homes. The dinner orders can be called in to the North Central Senior Center at 265-5464 after Thanksgiving until Dec. 24 at 3 p.m.

The dinners that will be served at the Eagles will be given out practicing social distancing. People will come in and get the number of plates they need and then exit the club via the side door. There will not be a gathering due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“We feel we got to do the dinner because there are a lot of people out there that really need it this year,” said Eagles Club Manager Tom Farnham.

The Women’s Auxiliary is hosting the Eagles annual toy drive. The drop-off sites are at Walmart, North 40, Ben Franklins, Old Station Brewery, The Eagles Club and Gary & Leo’s IGA. The boxes are out for new toys for children ages 1-14 and all donations will benefit a child in need in this community. The boxes will be out until Dec. 20th.

Harlem Christmas Stroll and related events canceled Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Harlem will not be holding its town-wide Christmas Stroll or related events and fundraisers this year.

Havre-Hill County Library hay ride canceled Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com

Havre-Hill County Library Director Rachel Rawn said this year’s annual Hay Ride has been canceled due to the pandemic.

“I just don’t know how we would do it,” Rawn said.

She said, from a safety perspective, it’s just not a good idea to have people who don’t know each other packed together in a sleigh during the pandemic.

Dec. 10, The Eagles and Friends, the Eagle Riders and Auxiliary members are holding a donation drive. They start at the

Eagles and go around to local businesses to hand out candy canes and raise money for the toy drive as well.

The people doing the drive last year had a good time.

“We had on our Santa Hats and had a lot of fun raising the donations,” Eagle’s Club Auxiliary President Candice Dess said.

The Eagles children’s Christmas party will be held Sunday Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. It will resemble the Halloween party and follow the Hill County guidelines for the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Eagles will also be hosting the adopt a family event. To adopt a family, p e o p l e c a n c o n ta c t C a n d i c e D e s s o r Heather Sinclair at 262-0498.

Volunteers are always needed for all events, and people can contact the Eagles for details on volunteering.

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Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper

Havre food basket program continues in a virtual year Chamber Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com

The Salvation Army’s Havre is again working with the Havre Community Food Bank to hand out food baskets to low-income and needy families during the holidays.

Salvation Army Havre’s Social Services Director Trina Crawford said this year’s food basket program is different due to COVID-19, with people signing up virtually instead of in person.

Sign-up for the Thanksgiving food baskets ended Nov. 16, and the deadline to sign up for the Christmas basket is Dec. 14.

Crawford said people who sign up and don’t receive an email with a confirmation of completion and a pick-up time for their basket need to get in touch with the organization immediately so they can get their applications completed.

Despite the complications of this unusual year, she said many things about this year’s food basket program excite her, including the use of this virtual sign-up system despite it’s current issue.

“I love it because it gives people options,” she said, “They can just sign up in their living rooms.”

She also said she’s happy that this year food baskets can be provided for two major holidays not just one.

“What’s cool this year is that, for the first time in a lot of years, we’re going to be able to offer a Thanksgiving basket and a Christmas basket,” she said.

Havre Community Food Bank Director Alma Garcia said the food boxes themselves will also contain new food items, which she said is great during this time of increased need.

“We have a lot to give this year,” she said, “... so the boxes are going to be a bit bigger so we can move a lot of these donations out to families where it belongs.”

She said extra funds from the CARES Act and the Hometown Hunger Fundraiser run in association with Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods have made this possible. Given the times, the layoffs and the shut-downs and all that, Crawford said she believes more people will be in need this year than most.

Crawford said people looking to sign up for the program can go to https://www.saangeltree.org .

When they go to the the site, they will be asked for an invitation code, she said, but people should click “no” code and then enter the Havre Zip code, 59501.

Crawford said to sign up, people will need a photo ID for the adult completing the application, their Social Security card and all household members’ proof of residential address, as well as a proof of income.

She said people also looking to sign up for the Angel Tree program, formerly called Giving Tree, should also have gift ideas for the children — 12 or younger — the program provides gifts to during Christmas.

Both of these programs consider families who have incomes up to 125 percent above the poverty level, and the sign-up deadline for the Giving Tree program is Dec 3.

Crawford said the organization is also running its Adopt a Family program that allows people to get gifts for an entire family along with providing a food basket anonymously.

Garcia said the food bank was working on other programs this holiday season including participating in Town Pump’s Be a Friend in Deed, Help Those in Need, in which Town Pump matches funds donated dollar for dollar up to a $10,000 for Havre donations, is also still going on.

She said HRDC is trying to raise $10,000 by the end of the month The deadline to donate is Monday, and donations can be made at Town Pump or HRDC.

have any major Christmas-related events this year due to the pandemic.

The Chippewa Cree Tribe, via their official Facebook page, said pandemic-related restric-

tions and general anxiety over the virus are both factors in the cancelation of events.

“Due to COVID restrictions and concerns there aren’t any (major events) planned at this time,” they said.

Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation has seen multiple lockdowns due to COVID-19 since the beginning of the year and still has significant restrictions in place as the surge of cases continues in Hill County.

Rocky Boy cancels Christmas events due to COVID pandemic Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com

Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation will not

Havre Area Chamber still holding some Christmas activities

Kimberly Bolta photos@havredailynews.com

Havre Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its Super Certificate drawings Dec. 5 during the Community Christmas Tree Lighting on Facebook live. There will be four baskets, and each will be valued at over $300.

Registration slips will be collected by 3:00 p.m. Dec. 4 and people must collect their prizes

by Dec. 9.

The Chamber is also running a receipt sweepstakes. If people shop at any Chamber members business a picture of the receipt can be sent to the Chamber to be entered in the sweepstakes. If a picture is posted of the item purchased to Facebook and the business and the Chamber are tagged the person gets a second entry. Prizes are worth up to $200.

The Chamber is also having the community decorate wooden ornaments for the Town Square Community Christmas Tree. The ornaments can be picked up at participating locations, then people can decorate them and then return them to the Chamber or place them on the Town Square Christmas tree by Dec. 5.

again offers Christmas Cash to local holiday shoppers The Havre Area Chamber of Commerce is continuing a tradition of helping people with holiday shopping and keeping cash in the local community.

Holiday shoppers can secure a Christmas Cash loan at participating lending institutions. The Christmas Cash can then be used at 48 Chamber member businesses.

Interest-free Christmas Cash Loans from $500 to $1,500 became available, with approved credit, this month at Independence Bank, Stockman Bank and Bear Paw Credit Union.

The program has had significant impact on the economy over the past years by keeping more than $7 million dollars in Havre, supporting local businesses. Close to $150,000 was loaned last year.

“Using local businesses for holiday shopping is a great way to support the community. These small business owners are the heart of the city and are deserving of your business,” the chamber said.

The mission of the program when first initiated in 1990 was to stimulate the local economy during the holiday by keeping money in town, supporting the local businesses. This is still the goal today.

“We need to thank the community for using and supporting the C h a m b e r ’s C h r i s t m a s C a s h Program these past 29 years,” the Chamber said. “Also, a thank you goes out to the participating financial institutions, Bear Paw Credit Union, Independence Bank and Stockman Bank, for continuing to be our partner in providing this program to the community and to the businesses that participate in the Chamber’s Christmas Cash program. Let’s make the 30th year another successful year for the program.”

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Boys & Girls Club Festival of Trees goes virtual this year Status of other holiday events uncertain Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line is holding it’s annual Festival of Trees fundraiser this year, albeit in a very different form with the event being held virtually.

Other events for the Christmas season were up in the air by printing deadline for this section.

Club Marketing and Events Director Krystal Steinmetz said the gala is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, typically drawing between 200 and 250 people, and was a great event to participate in.

“We’d have food, appetizers, desert and it would be a super-fun evening for everybody,” she said.

The event normally is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, along with the Havre Community Tree Lighting, the Polar Plunge Special Olympics Montana fundraiser and other events.

This year, the Festival of Trees is being held virtually, with an online auction that started Tuesday and runs through Saturday.

The trees can be seen and bid on at the auction site at www.bgchavre.givesmart. com .

Steinmetz said, the event still has a lot of

support from the community as evidenced by all the moral support she received when the club was considering canceling it.

“We’d actually considered canceling the event entirely this year, just knowing how 2020 has been a challenge for so many people and businesses ... but we had community members who asked about the event and when we said we were considering canceling it they were so encouraging and urged us to have it and that’s why we continued to have it,” she said.

She said so many generous people are in the community that have seen the work the club has been able to do this year with COVID-19 and the desire to support it is still there and the club is fortunate to have their support.

The auction is being held Tuesday, Nov. 24 at noon beginning with the ultimate winner drawing, back by popular demand, Steinmetz said, at https://www.bghavre.givesmart.com .

She said 150 ultimate winner tickets, which sold out last year, are available for $50 each, with the winner able to pick whichever tree desired.

If fewer than 100 tickets are sold the Ultimate Winner drawing will be held as a 50/50 raffle.

The winner and the results of the online auction will be announced Saturday.

The club staff is considering holiding a few themed parties for the holidays but are taking it day by day and assessing the COVID-19 pandemic effects.

The club does not yet know if it will be holding its annual lunch with Santa event this year.

MSU-Northern’s Community Orchestra, Choir, not holding Christmas events Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com MSU-Northern’s Community leader head Angela Part said the choir will not be holding any Christmas-related events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pratt said this is because the university wouldn’t let the choir hold practices.

“We’re missing it pretty hardcore,” she said.

MSU-Northern’s Community Orchestra will also not be holding any events.

Pianos and Pipes concert canceled Tim Leeds tleeds@havredailynews.com The annual holiday Piano and Pipes concert hosted by First Lutheran Church is canceled for this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper

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November 2020

Havre Daily News/Hi-Line Shopper

COVID-19 pandemic complicates holiday celebrations tions also have been impacted.

M a ny eve n t s n o r m a l l y h e l d f ro m Thanksgiving through Christmas have been modified or canceled.

The Havre Daily News reached out to organizers of events to try to find what plans have been set, although final deci-

sions on some events still have not been made.

This special section details what the Havre Daily News has been able to confirm by printing deadline for this section. Watch for updates on other events in The Havre Daily News.

Groups and organizations with Christmas events not listed in this publication, or which make decisions on events after printing deadline for this edition, can contact Managing Editor Tim Leeds at 265-6795 ext.

14 or via email at tleeds@havredailynews. com.

of positive cases in the community and the unknown asymptomatic people, the burden of getting people sick is just too great.”

The Havre Community Thanksgiving The dinner, which was begun and paid for Dinner has been canceled for the the first by an anonymous donor in 1981 and averages time in its nearly 40-year history due to the 150 volunteers a year, is free of charge and recent surge of COVID-19 was intended to bring peoin area. ple in the community Dinner Chair Debi to ge t h e r re g a rd l e s s o f Rhines said the decision to means or circumstances. cancel the dinner, held at “I don’t know when it the St. Jude Parish Center gained momentum, but it e v e r y y e a r, w a s a n became an annual event, extremely difficult one and here we are, almost 40 given the event’s mission to years later,” Rhines said. bring the community She said that when she together, but for the sake of started as chair of the event Dinner organizer Debi Rhines eve r yo n e ’s s a f e t y s h e she was given a mission believes this is the right statement that said the thing to do. point of the project was to “We’ve done it in snow, we’ve done it in provide a Thanksgiving dinner with all the freezing rain, we’ve had the dinner when it trimmings for everyone, young, old, rich, was 60 degrees outside. ... It’s always been poor, singles, couples, and families, and to on,” she said. “But this year, with the surge bring the community together as a family.

Rhines said it is a beautiful event that she looks forward to every year.

“For me it doesn’t feel like work, it’s enjoyable because there are always so many people who have a can-do, will-do kind of attitude,” she said. “To me, it’s a great community event.”

She said early in November that she and the event’s other organizers originally considered running the event by delivery, but since the surge of positive cases in the county the event has become untenable.

Rhines said she’s received many messages saying people would support her decision, but it was still an extremely difficult choice to make.

She said there’s a statement she’s seen on social media that she thinks is very powerful and sums up her feelings about the situation.

“We’re all separated so that when we come back no one is missing,” she said.

Unfortunately, there are those in the community for whom that is no longer possible, she said, but the point the statement makes is still true.

In a press release, Rhines and the anonymous donor said the plan is to resume the dinner in the future.

“We hope and pray you will be at our table next year to share fellowship and the same full-course traditional holiday meal that has attracted many people from all walks of life for decades,” the release said.

“Until next year, keep your circles small, stay home when needed, practice social distancing, wash your hands often, wear your masks, and always love your neighbors. God willing, we will all be available next year to carry out the mission of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner as we collectively love giving back to our community.”

Tim Leeds tleeds@havredailynews.com

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a tumultuous year for activities, with many canceled, rescheduled or modified to allow for social distancing, and holiday celebra-

Havre Community Thanksgiving Dinner canceled for the first time Patrick Johnston pjohnston@havredailynews.com

We’re all separated so when we come back no one is missing

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Kremlin residents continue to help families for the holidays Pam Burke community@havredailynews.com Though the residents of Kremlin won’t be holding a community celebration for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, they are continuing with another annual tradition to help families in need — because finding a way to help others, one organizer said, is what small-town residents do.

“This year, I don’t know of anyone even having a gathering in their homes, just to be safe,” said Judy Gomke, Kremlin resident and member of the Kremlin

Homemakers organization, but, she added, the community is doing its annual holiday gift baskets to families in need — one at Thanksgiving and the other at Christmas.

The Kremlin Homemakers find a family in need in the county, then the group organizes a community drive to gather donations for a food basket that provides a full holiday meal to the recipient family, including turkey at Thanksgiving — or a ham for Christmas — and all the fixings and dessert.

“It’s more than just a meal, though,” Gomke said.

Because so many community members pitch in for the giveaway, they end up providing the family with extra food for all the day’s meals and beyond, toiletries and a variety of other everyday items a household can use. The gift basket was delivered Monday to give the family time to thaw the turkey.

Ag Wise Inc., which Gomke said has the distinction of being Kremlin’s only town business, donates the Thanksgiving turkey every year, but the rest comes from people giving from their family to another in need.

That’s the way of small communities, to

pitch in to help one another, she added.

“If you haven’t lived in a small community, you haven’t seen how important it is for everyone to contribute,” she said.

This extends beyond the dinner table, as well, with neighbors helping with snow removal from streets, driveways and walkways, having a volunteer fire department that does more work than just put out fires, maintaining the town park, which is something the homemakers club does, and filling all manner of needs that arise.

“I think that’s really the way it’s done in all small towns,” Gomke said.

hosting a food drive through next week.

They are asking for people to bring Thanksgiving dinner items such as instant mashed potatoes, gravy packets, stuffing, cranberries and canned veggies and fruit.

The food collected from this drive will go to the Havre High food pantry and will help families at the school with Thanksgiving dinners. Key Club provides four families with entire Thanksgiving dinners every year and any left-over items go into the food pantry to help students for the rest of the year.

The Key Club will also be doing their annual Christmas wrap fundraiser to raise funds to take Havre High families shopping for Christmas, Key Club Advisor Heather Haney said.

Highland Park Early Primary School will be creating Christmas videos for each class in lieu of the usual Christmas concerts put on by the students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The videos will be posted to parents via the online learning platform SeeSaw, Principal Mark Irvin said.

Lincoln-McKinley Primary School does not have any events planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. Jude Thaddeus School is not holding the usual Christmas programs this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many teachers are putting together YouTube videos of their classes singing Christmas Carols. The school is also attempting to hold the annual food drive during Advent. More information

will be released as plans are finalized said Principal Mike Haugen.

Area schools adjust their Christmas seasons to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions Kimberly Bolta photos@havredailynews.com A re a s c h o o l s h ave a d j u s t e d t h e i r Christmas season events to adapt to requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following are events held by some schools which The Havre Daily News was able to confirm by the printing deadline for this special section.

Some schools were not able to confirm their Christmas season plans with replies to requests for information from The Havre Daily News

Havre The Key Club at Havre High School is

Turner Turner public schools does not have any events planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Hopefully, we can just continue to attend school in person for as long as possible,” said Turner Public Schools Superintendent Tony Warren.

North Star All North Star Schools Christmas events w i l l b e d o n e v i r t u a l l y t h i s ye a r Superintendent Bart Hawkins said. The schools will have them available on the NFHS channel during the week prior to Christmas.

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