Community comes together to help siblings
BRADYS BEND TWP, Armstrong County — Hundreds of people came out Sunday in support of a couple of Karns City High School students who lost both of their parents to cancer.
A spaghetti dinner and silent auction at the Sons of Italy raised money to support Samantha and Dominick Hauser.
Samantha and Dominick, originally from Bruin, lost their mother Lisa in September 2015 after a five-year battle with brain cancer.
After her death, their father Joe Hauser was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that starts in the white blood cells. He died in May, about 18 months after his diagnosis.
Samantha said Sunday that they appreciated everyone who organized the event and said she spent much of the day thanking people who came.
“It's nice. You see just how a community comes together,” she said.
They are staying with their aunt, Stacy Rodgers in Butler, but got permission from the school board to continue to attend Karns City this year, as long as they drive to school.
The spaghetti dinner was organized, starting several months ago, by a group of people who know the family and wanted to help, including Megan Slaugenhoup, Scott Andreassi, Todd Lucas, Jennifer Lucas, Jennifer Christie, Michelle Shear and others. They charged $10 per plate and all of the supplies were provided by donation.
The Sons of Italy donated the pasta and sauce and use of their hall and more than 150 baskets in the auction were all donated, said Todd Lucas.
“This is probably the most people that's ever been in this place,” he said about the packed hall. “People are coming from all over.”
Karns City teachers and students — many of them wearing purple and yellow shirts on Sunday — and other community members volunteered to work the dinner.
Organizers Sunday afternoon did not know how much money the event would raise, but noted that 638 dinners were sold and a significant donation would be made to the family. The turnout was larger than expected, Lucas said.
Some of the money raised will go directly to the family and a trust fund has also been set up by an aunt, Heidi Green. For more information about the fund, visit www.facebook.com/hauserkids.
Three Karns City seniors — Brayden Wilson, Logan Pistorius and Hunter Gifford — are organizing a golf scramble Sept. 23 at Foxburg Country Club. The event costs $60 per person. To sign up, call 724-679-4328.
“We thought we could raise some money to help out our friend. They're in need. Not having parents, that's tough,” Pistorius said.
