Welches resident and parent Stephanie Gagnon came up with a new
fundraiser last year for the Welches School’s eighth grade class: a raffle for a
custom quilt that Gagnon would make.

Gagnon, who has been quilting for 15 years and had her quilts shown at
Timberline Lodge and Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, offered three different
designs for the winner to pick from, along with the color and size, and also
committed to making a quilt for the student who sold the most tickets.

By the end of the school year, Samantha Weiler and Olivia Wilcox had sold
$217 worth of tickets, more than a third of the $600 total that was raised.

And in the continued spirit of giving, the girls – who will both be ninth graders
at Sandy High School this fall – elected to give their quilt to a neighbor who
Weiler noted helps others, including taking animals to the vet.

“We thought she should get the blanket because she is one of the nicest
people we know in the neighborhood,” said Weiler, 14l. “She started crying
when we gave it to her. She was really happy and she would call us and thank
us a lot after that day.”

The two girls spent hours going door to door in their neighborhood to sell their
raffle tickets, taking turns giving their pitch and sometimes staying out until
nearly dark. Weiler added this was not the first fundraiser she’s participated
in, noting she’s sold wreaths, flower baskets and coffee in the past.

“I like helping out our school because I’ve been there since kindergarten and
they’ve treated me with respect and helped me through some hard times,”
she said. “A lot of people like to keep things for themselves. I kind of wanted
to be that one percent that didn’t.”

Gagnon noted how impressed she was with the two girls and their
selflessness.

“They thought outside themselves,” she said. “They did it and I couldn’t be
more proud of them.”