Quilt raffle to support local family facing cancer

Members of the Epiphany Episcopal Church and San Miguel Mission in Socorro are raffling off a hand-quilted masterpiece to raise funds for a local family facing extraordinary medical expenses. The fundraiser will benefit Jason and Andrea Simmons and their young daughter, Antonia.

Andrea, a beloved Parkview Elementary School teacher, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and is currently in hospice care.

The idea for the quilt raffle began when a man from San Antonio donated a collection of his late mother’s quilting materials to the church. Among them was a beautiful quilt top that soon inspired a community act of compassion. Members of the Socorro Fiber Arts Guild, including several Epiphany parishioners, volunteered their time and talent to hand-quilt the piece, a process that began last summer and was completed this spring.

“It just felt like the right thing to do,” said Danielsen. “Andrea and Jason were married in our church, and we wanted to find a way to support them during such a difficult time.”

The finished quilt is on display in the fellowship hall at Epiphany Episcopal Church. The quilt will also be featured at the annual Quilt Show at the Methodist Church on Dec. 6, where tickets will be available for purchase.

The raffle drawing will take place on Dec. 7, with all proceeds going directly to help the Simmons family cover ongoing medical and household expenses.

Raffle tickets are $10 each, or 6 for $50, and can be purchased at the San Miguel Mission gift shop and by contacting raffle organizer Annie Danielsen at 575-517-0211.