Sponsored by the Criminal Justice Association of MSCTC; all proceeds benefit the rebuilding of the Harms home which was destroyed by a January fireDate: 03/06/2008 – 03/06/2008
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Minnesota State Community and Technical College, 1900 28th Ave. S. Moorhead, Minnesota
Admission: Adults, $5; children under 6, $1
For more information call: (701) 373-5691

Harms, is a member of the Minnesota State Patrol. Harms was advised the Dilworth Fire Department that he evacuated the home only to run back into the home quickly to warn a tenant living in an apartment above the garage. The family was awed by the large turnout at the breakfast benefit. The community center parking lot was full when the family arrived at 9:45 a.m., 15 minutes after the first flapjacks were served.

“What it’s been a lot of is people you don’t know who know someone you know,” he said. “There’s always a connection some way in a community like this.”

The benefit was sponsored by local Girl Scout and Cub Scout groups. The Girl Scout and Cub Scout members waited tables and poured coffee while taking in-kind donations from several local businesses. Attendance was large enough to require extra trips for breakfast reinforcements and other supplies.

Firefighters James Nash and Brad Giesinger, who lives four doors down from the Harms and responded to the fire call there, helped clean up as the event began to wind down after 1 p.m..

The turnout didn’t surprise either of them. Several other recent fundraisers have drawn large crowds as well, they said.

“I think we band together pretty tight,” Nash said.

The Harms family has been living in a house right next door to the home that was damaged. The neighboring owners were not using the home full-time.

He said they hope to rebuild on their lot and are shooting to be back in a new home by the end of the summer. In the meantime, their freezer is still loaded with donated food.

“There are a lot of people who really care a lot in this community,” Harms said