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HAVERHILL — Seeing a ‘pasta-bility’ to get some money for the Haverhill Shelter House, a Pasta Supper Fundraiser is set for Friday.

Organized and created by shelter manager and Haverhill City Council member Maggie Stalzer, it will be the first fundraiser of its kind for the shelter.

“We talked about a fundraiser for a while,” she said. “We were going to do a soup fundraiser, and have no-meat options for Catholics since it’s on a Friday, but we decided on pasta.”

Still wanting to meet the needs of Catholics who abstain from meat during the season of Lent, Stalzer will have a marinara without meat, along with a red meat sauce and an alfredo. She won’t be alone in the effort, as some other council members will be helping out.

Pasta lovers can dish up their penne or rotini and choose which sauce best suits their needs, and grab some bread and a dessert, too. All that is requested is customers provide a free will donation, which will go toward improvements to the shelter and the park.

Stalzer said the improvements include replacing two patches of gravel in the playground with rubber mulch, as well as new countertops, cabinets and some appliances for the shelter kitchen. She is not sure how old the appliances, particularly the oven and refrigerator are, but knows they are overdue for replacement.

“We would like the kitchen to look a little nicer,” Stalzer said. “I haven’t lived in Haverhill my whole life, but we have a family reunion at the shelter every year, and the appliances are well used. I don’t think the fridge works the best. They just need to be replaced.”

How often the equipment is utilized is not officially known, but 4-H clubs use the kitchen once a month. Plus, families host events there throughout the year, and Stalzer would like to give the community another option for a venue.

In total, she said they need to raise $11,000 for the park and shelter improvements – $8,000 for the mulch and $3,000 for the kitchen.

“[The city] does have some money budgeted for the shelter, but it’s just not enough to do everything we are wanting to get done,” Stalzer said.

She hopes at least 50 people will attend the pasta fundraiser and give donations. If the event is successful, Stalzer said it will be held again next year.

“We’ve also talked about hosting a movie in the park and a pancake breakfast,” she said. “It depends on how well this goes.”

FUNDRAISER INFORMATION:

What: Pasta Supper Fundraiser

Where: Haverhill Shelter House

Address: 105 Main St., Haverhill

Date: Friday

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free will donation

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.