In Borderland the mosquito that drives us indoors at dusk and dawn is little more than a pest.

But in sub-Saharan Africa, a child dies every 45 seconds from malaria, a preventable and treatable, infectious disease transmitted by a mosquito bite.

Borderland residents have a chance to make a difference in the lives of people who live thousands of miles from here Thursday by helping to raise funds to purchase mosquito nets. Just one long-lasting insecticide-treated net can protect three lives for up to five years.

The Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in International Falls will play host to a dinner Thursday to raise funds to purchase mosquito nets for those living in poverty in malaria-infested areas of the world. The funds will be given to the Diocese of Minnesota and the Episcopal Relief and Development arm of the national Episcopal Church.

Each year, the Episcopalian Church in Minnesota sponsors a missionary effort that unites congregations by focusing on a single project of significant proportion. The NetsforLife project is a part of the Mission Project 2011. Earlier, the local church’s project involved purchasing solar cookers to assist people living in nations with a dwindling wood supply.

This year’s Mission Project 2011 goals include purchasing 19,714 nets, or raising $234,468, representing one net for every Episcopalian in Minnesota.

NetsforLife provides long-lasting treated nets that have been shown to be effective at preventing the spread of malaria, from which about one million people — mostly children, die each year.

Holy Trinity Deacon Lee Grim said the Borderland community knows how to love one another and has supported the church’s past efforts to assist people who live in poverty. This is the fifth year the church has offered a dinner to raise funds for outreach.

“We are Christians and supposed to love our neighbors and be supportive of those that are less fortunate than we are,” he explained.

Grim noted that there are no vaccines for malaria. “Let’s do best we can to help people help themselves,” he said of the project. “We’re not just handing out nets and saying our job is done, Episcopal Relief and Development, which is our group that supports people in world and this country, will have local people in those malaria-infested areas teach them how to use nets and give them education and training.”

Since 2008, NetsforLife has delivered more than 4.8 million nets across 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa resulting in less sickness, fewer deaths and stronger communities.

If you go:

What: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church pork dinner

Where: Elk’s Lodge, which is handicap accessible

When: 5-7 p.m. Thursday

Cost: $10; Tickets may be purchased at: City Drug, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Coffee Landing

WHY: To purchase mosquito nets for those living in poverty in malaria-infested areas of the world.