Helping others in their time of need is the goal of the first-ever Christmas with the Mayor, a fundraising dinner with Kalispell Mayor Tammi Fisher.

Fisher came up with the idea to help the Wings travel fund and the Intermountain Providence Home.

The Providence Home provides temporary housing for abused, abandoned or neglected children.

It operates with both public and private funding.

Some 55 percent comes through the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, with the remaining 45 percent from donations.

Wings is a local nonprofit group that provides funding for travel expenses for those with cancer and their families.

Personal experiences with both Wings and Intermountain played key roles in Fisher’s life.

When her husband had cancer, Fisher was in law school and didn’t have the money to travel with him for treatment in Seattle and Salt Lake City. They received $1,000 from Wings, she said.

In addition, her nephew received help from Intermountain.

Corporate sponsorships for the event are available for $350 each.

The Christmas with the Mayor dinner will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at Sykes’ Restaurant in downtown Kalispell.

Proceeds will be split equally between the two charities. Sykes’ is donating the space and charging only the cost of the food.

Tickets run $44 per person for a prime rib dinner with all the fixings.

Door prizes will be given away and there will be presentations by Wings and Intermountain.

Fisher, who has two sons, Jack, 8, and Tucker, 4, will greet customers and serve food.

To order tickets, call 890-1275 or e-mail fisher4mayor@gmail.com.

There is limited seating, so reservations are recommended.

“I’m looking forward to it being an annual event,” said Fisher, a private practice attorney who’s serving her first term in office as Kalispell mayor.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.