CANTON — When Ali Bahre, an 8th-grader at Canton Middle School, heard about the tragedy at Sandy Hook, she knew she had to do something.

“It was really bothering me,” said Ali, 13. “I have a sister in the first grade at Cherry Brook School, and if she had been in this tragedy it would be really hard for me.”

So Ali came up with the idea of selling soft silicone rubber bracelets for $1, and sending the money to the United Way of Northwest Connecticut’s Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

“I thought of how I could spread the word,” she said. “Kids could wear bracelets to show their support. I wanted to act quickly, and show how my town cared, and showed its support for Newtown.”

Ali found a website that made 1,000 of the bracelets, bearing the slogans “Hope & Faith” and “Sandy Hook Families,” and the company express-shipped the order, while charging her only standard shipping, so she could sell them to Canton students before the winter holiday break.

“I set up a table at school and sold them before classes began,” she said. Bracelets were also available in the school office through the day.

She sold 1,000 bracelets in three days at Canton High School/Middle School, and sold more at Valley Sports Center the following Saturday with her friend Sean Sullivan. She ordered another 300 bracelets, and has sold them as well.

“A woman called for 20 bracelets, to use as napkin rings for a Christmas dinner at her home that included guests from Newtown,” said Jenny Bahre, Ali’s mother. “I’ve had people buy them off my wrist.”

Ali has raised more than $1,100 with her project.

“By selling the bracelets and people wearing them, it keeps those families affected in our hearts and on our minds,” said Jenny Bahre. “Ali has also enjoyed seeing people she doesn’t even know around town wearing the bracelets, including police officers, superintendent, parents and teachers.”