UPDATE: Nearly $5,000 donated during fundraiser in local teen’s memory
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UPDATE:
Nearly $5,000 were raised in memory of a local high school student during a fundraiser at Frostop Drive-in in Ashton Tuesday.
Members of the community contributed $4,997.42 in honor of North Fremont High School student Kaitlyn Baldwin, who passed away several months ago.
All the money will go towards a scholarship for the sophomore class.
“Y’all have stepped up again and y’all have made a difference in the lives of our sophomore class today,” Restaurant owner Hannah McCausey wrote on Frostop’s Facebook page. “These kids are priceless and it was such an honor to work with them today and to hear your memories of Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn’s life made such an impact on so many lives here in Ashton.”
ORIGINAL STORY:
ASHTON – A local community is honoring the life of a high school student with a memorial fundraiser Tuesday.
The Frostop Drive-in at 26 U.S. Highway 20 in Ashton is hosting the event for Kaitlyn Baldwin, a North Fremont High School student who passed away several months ago.
Family members declined to comment about the details of Kaitlyn’s death, but Frostop Owner Hannah McCausey tells EastIdahoNews.com it happened suddenly and took the whole community by surprise. She says it’s been rewarding to watch people come together for a common good.
“It’s something that has helped everyone feel more positive,” High School Counselor Christina Hollist says. “You never know when something like this is going to happen. The suddenness of it really affected everybody and it caused people to be more aware of those around them.”
One of the people who set the project in motion was Josie Bowman, one of Kaitlyn’s classmates.
“(Josie) is my good friend’s daughter and when she decided to do something, I wanted to help her out,” McCausey says. “When kids are able to give back or help in a situation like this, it helps them cope and deal with a loss.”
The fundraiser will kick off at 10 a.m. Fifty percent of all the proceeds will go towards a scholarship for the sophomore class. The specifics are still being worked out, but Hollist says they’d like to award it to four students at the end of the year who, like Kaitlyn, went out of their way to be a positive influence in people’s lives.
“Kaitlyn was involved in a lot of things. One of them was cheerleading. As she cheered at games, she worked hard to (bring a smile to people’s faces). She was always making jokes and making people laugh,” Hollist says.
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The restaurant is also accepting donations, which will be entered into a drawing for raffle prizes donated by members of the community.
Prizes include a 40-inch screen TV donated by the Frostop and two $50 gift certificates to Dave’s Jubilee. There is also a $50 gift certificate for Family Dollar up for grabs, along with gloves, hat and goggles donated by Performance Motor Sports and two 30-minute massages donated by Unknotted.
Frostop will be giving one free raffle ticket to each Combo Meal purchase.
The memorial fundraiser will go until 8 p.m. and is open to anyone. McCausey and Hollist are hoping for a good turnout.
Visit the Facebook page to learn more.
