PARIS – Rightstart, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to providing services to children and teens in the eight towns of the Oxford Hills, is planning to award a $500 scholarship to a member of the graduating class of 2004 at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

A fund-raiser has been planned toward raising the money for the scholarship, and the Pine Needles Quilters have donated a handmade blue snowflake ouilt as part of that effort. Raffle tickets are available and may be purchased from Rightstart board directors, including Connie Allen, Sherry Keaton, Carlene Treadwell, Karen Ellis, Chris Yates, Jean Delamater, Rhonda Twitchell and John and Wendy Williams.

Tickets are also available at the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce , 213 Main St., South Paris.

Tickets are available for $1 or six tickets for $5. The drawing will be held on Saturday, May 15. For more information, call Delamater at 539-4587.

Members of the Pine Needles Quilters who participated in making the quilt include Fran Alexander, Kathy Anzalone, Cynthia Cannone, Connie Cassarino, Judy Compton, Sue Crane, Nancy Cutter, Duveen Dews, Chris Friberg, Barbara Swan Frost, Marcia Greene, Helen Hafner, Janice Hanson, Kathy Kelly, Anne Love, Fran Martin, Sylvia Niemi, Florence Rivenburg, Janet Ryan, Elizabeth Shaw, Carole Shuttle, Lisa Teichmann, Barbara Varney and Hazel Wheeler.

Rightstart has been instrumental in helping needy children in the Oxford Hills area for more than 25 years, with programs like Coats for Kids, Teens and Adults, Christmas for Kids and Teens, book swaps and summer tutoring. Fund-raisers include the annual Jump in the Lake and breakfast with Santa.

Connie Allen, Rightstart board chairwoman, said, “Without the services that Rightstart has provided over the years and continues to provide, literally thousands of children and teenagers in the Oxford Hills area would have gone without warm clothing, Christmas gifts, books to provide incentives for reading and tutorial services to help children with special needs. That’s what we’re all about, and fund-raising to provide children’s services continues to be our top priority.”