Peterson Elementary fifth-graders received a warm surprise Dec. 17 from three local residents.

Jan Weller, Nancy Peiffer and Carol Senner knitted 58 hats for the fifth-graders.

While the women didn’t get to see the reactions of students getting the hats, Peterson fifth-grade teacher Kari Peiffer did.

“They were surprised,” Kari Peiffer said adding that it was hard to keep them away from the hats while figuring out how to hand them out.

Kari Peiffer — Nancy’s daughter-in-law — said students drew numbers to decide the order of picking hats, which brought out the holiday spirit of kindness.

“One little boy knew exactly which hat he wanted, but he had a high number, 29, and a girl who had a lower number switched with him because she didn’t care what hat she got,” Kari Peiffer said.

Kari Peiffer said Weller initially asked her if there was a need for children who may not have warm hats during the cold weather. While there was need for some children, the women decided to make hats for all the Peterson fifth-graders instead of singling people out.

“They wore them all day Wednesday and Thursday and Friday,” Kari Peiffer said.

Weller, Nancy Peiffer and Senner began making the hats in mid-October. Weller said each hat took about four to five hours to make and each one was different from the next one.

“No two hats were the same. We wanted them different so the kids would know which one was exactly theirs,” Weller said. “It’s cold and some kids are less fortunate. We wanted to do something kids would like.

Sonja Merrill watched Weller as she knit hats while they sold tickets for high school basketball games.

“They did a lot of work,” Merrill said. “I thought it was quite amazing.”

The trio meet every Wednesday to knit. Between the three, there are roughly 50 years of knitting experience.

“I retired about a year and a half ago and I wanted something to do, so I asked a couple of ladies if we could meet and knit together,” Weller said.

“It really makes you feel good to do something for kids.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.