Local pastors organize benefit for Gundersons

A benefit spaghetti supper to help defray expenses for a kidney transplant for Emily Gunderson is from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at First Assembly of God Church, 1720 Eighth Ave. S.W., at the top of Mill Hill.

Gunderson, who’s on dialysis, will receive a kidney from her father, Troy Gunderson, executive director of James Valley Youth For Christ, on Jan. 8 at Mayo Clinic. Father and daughter will spend weeks in Rochester on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

The Revs. Darrell Losing, of First Assembly of God, and Steve Berntson, of Atonement Lutheran Church, are organizing the supper to help the family financially with expenses that medical insurance doesn’t cover.

“They have incredible out-of-pocket expenses and so many people wanted to help,” Losing said. “We chose our facility for the supper because it’s so large. It can seat 300.”

As YFC executive director, Troy Gunderson has worked with local youth for years. The organization focuses on giving young people the opportunity to become a follower of Jesus Christ and a part of a local church. Along with a variety of youth-oriented activities, YFC has an afterschool drop-in center for young people in middle school through high school. Because of Gunderson’s interest and efforts on behalf of local youth, the two local pastors wanted to do something for him and his family.

“Troy’s so well-known in the community and he does so much for youth,” Berntson said.

“He’s been so interdenominational, we’re trying to do the same,” Losing said. The Gundersons attend First Assembly. “We’re bringing our congregations together for this benefit.”

Members of the two churches are supplying desserts for the supper. Dakota Growers Pasta is donating the spaghetti and local grocery stores other ingredients. Emma Kleingartner is providing catering services for free. The two pastors are expecting hundreds.

“People will come, not because of us, but because of their love of the Gundersons,” Berntson said.

When the necessity of a transplant became known, Berntson said the neighborhood organized an ice cream social to raise money. The Gundersons are neighbors of the Berntsons. Interest in helping has grown.

“We tried to guess how many would come to the supper,” Losing said. “There was such groundswell in wanting to do something.”

Along with the spaghetti supper, the YFC Board has organized a silent auction with varied items for people to bid on.

“About 7 (p.m.) the auction will close,” Berntson said. “People who have bid on auction items don’t have to be present.”

There is no charge for the supper. Instead, it’s a freewill donation to the Gundersons. The Stutsman County Chapter of Thrivent Financial is matching up to $1,000 so checks should be made out to Thrivent at the supper. For those who want to donate but can’t make it to the supper, Atonement and First Assembly will accept checks made out to the Gunderson Benefit or to the church, referencing the benefit.

Gate City Bank has also set up an account called Emily Gunderson Benefit for donations.

Sun reporter Toni Pirkl can be reached at (701) 952-8453

or by e-mail at

tonip@jamestownsun.com

Tags: bene it, gunderson, kidney, church, pastor