A fund raising benefit to help longtime Stevensville resident Rita Hall Pfau meet expenses in the wake of a major health crisis will be held Saturday, May 19, at the Stevensville Family Center beginning at 5 p.m.
Rita was recently diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer and is facing major immediate and long-term expenses in coping with her condition. She is a lifelong resident of the Bitterroot Valley and a 1992 graduate of Stevensville High School. In 2015, Rita was honored by the Stevensville community with the “Good Neighbor Award” from the Stevensville Civic Club for her efforts in putting together, and then serving as food services director and manager of, the summer free lunch program that ensured that no child in the community would go without a meal during the summer months. She also has been an active leader of the Catholic Youth Group in Stevensville. She was president for the Stevensville PTA for several years, director of religious education for the Stevensville and Florence Catholic churches, started a homemade soup program where members of the St. Mary’s Church delivered soup to persons in the community who were ill, a cheerleading adviser for eight years at Stevensville High School, and main instructor to the youth group at her church.
The fundraising event will feature dozens of items donated by local citizens and businesses for both silent and live auctions, plus a bake sale, according to Jenny Wensel-Hussell and Rachel Burk, co-chairs of the committee putting the fundraiser together. The bake sale items are being coordinated by Mary Ralls, who can be reached at 777-5447. There will be a free taco bar, snacks and drinks available at the event, they said.
Rita, 44, is currently receiving treatment and care in Missoula and will subsequently require ongoing home care in Stevensville.
“We are accepting donations for the silent and live auctions,” Burk said. Those wishing to make donations of items for the auctions can contact Rachel Burk at 406-531-9910 or Wensel-Hussell at 770-378-2931.
In addition, they asked Rita’s friends and neighbors to put the benefit event on their schedules and show up at the event to provide the support she needs.