PONDERAY — Avista’s Sandpoint service center is sponsoring a raffle ticket sale this Friday at North 40 Outfitters in Ponderay. All proceeds will go to Kinderhaven, a local organization that provides crucial services in our area for children in need.

Avista crews will be selling raffle tickets all day Friday at both entrances to North 40. Participants will have the chance to win one of two prizes, consisting of one cord of split cedar or 50 bundles of cedar kindling.

“We partnered with local Boy Scout Troop 308 who provided scouts to split all the kindling for this fundraiser,” said Jim Kane, Avista’s operations manager for Sandpoint.

The scouts learned to safely split firewood under direct supervision of Avista employees Pat Dotson and Larry Loveless who also volunteer to the scout program. The scouts not only learned a specific task but also the importance of how to help make positive difference in the community, Kane said.

Avista line foreman Jason Guthrie and his wife, Donna, have organized local Avista employees’ giving program for Kinderhaven for many years, Kane said. This year, employees wanted to add a fundraising component.

“Kinderhaven is such an incredible organization that provides safe shelter for children that have been removed from their home. We are very blessed to have this kind of service in North Idaho,” he said.

Tickets may be purchased directly by calling Jim Kane at 208-929-0166 or by stopping by the Avista office at 100 N. Lincoln, Sandpoint.