Parins Family (Submitted photo)
St Albert Catholic Church, Land O’ Lakes, hosts its annual benefit fish fry April 12, with proceeds being given to a family or organization in need. This year, the beneficiary is the family of Nick Parins.
Parins is a 17-year-old junior at Northland Pines High School. He is active in his faith journey and a reader at youth services.
Parins is involved in other community service; he volunteers at the Land O’ Lakes Library and he assists community organizations like the Chamber of Commerce. He is a past participant in the SOAR charter school; he has received leadership training as well as a member of the Northland Pines Trap Team. Boy Scouts is a big part of his life; he earned “Order of the Arrow” and is on track to be an Eagle Scout by fall. When he is not participating in these activities, he enjoys hunting, fishing and trapping with his father.
In May, he had struggles breathing and was initially treated for pneumonia. Unresponsive to treatments, he was eventually sent to Madison, and he was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma.
He has remained in Madison for nearly a year, and continues to receive treatments, with great probability for full recovery. However, the treatment process is over a three-year period, and he must remain within an hour of a major hospital.
The stay in Madison has caused hardships on the family. Parins’ father, Kevin, has taken a leave of absence from his job as a consultant to small local grocery and convenience store operators. Kathi, Parins’ mother, has continued to work as an online global client liaison, using data to create and track world buying trends for global manufacturers. She has recently learned her job will be shipped offshore.
Proceeds of the fundraiser will offer modest financial assistance to the family.
St. Albert’s All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry will be 5 to 7 p.m. April 12. There is a choice of broiled or deep-fried fish, baked beans, potato salad, rye bread and coleslaw. Desserts are homemade treats donated by parishioners and friends. Carry-out service is available. Milk and coffee are included with dinner; beer, wine and soda are available at additional cost. There will be silent auctions, bucket raffles and freewill offerings for the family.
The cost is $12 per person for ages 12 and older, and $6 for ages 6-11.
There is an early ticket price of $10 per adult for tickets purchased before April 7.
Anyone wishing to send tax-deductible donations for the family can mail checks to: to St. Albert Church, P.O. Box 237, Land O’ Lakes, WI 54540. Write “Parins Family Benefit” on the memo line. Donations of products or coupons for services are useful in the bucket raffle and silent auctions.
Contact St. Albert’s Church with any questions or to volunteer, 715-547-3558.
