ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — As you come to enjoy the fireworks at Garrett Park in Robertsdale July 4, there is something else that you might come home with besides memories of all the “OHHHs” and “AHHHHs” — a quilt.

The fireworks will begin at dusk, but for those who love a handmade quilt, the action, also known as the raffle, will happen just before the fireworks begin. The Central Baldwin Education Foundation will be raffling off a handsome blue and white “Country Blues” quilt. made by the “Little Ole Ladies Quilting Circle.” The group meets every Wednesday afternoon at Mertis Childress’ home.

While not sure of the exact size, Donna Gates, the president of the CBEF says, “The quilt will fit a double bed.”

“It will definitely fit a double bed,” said Evelyn Lowery of the LOLQC, She added that the group has made quilts for a number of local organizations.

Tickets for the raffle are $1 each and buying in bulk is a bargain — six tickets for $5. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce office at the junction of Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 90, in Robertsdale, Visions Bank in Robertsdale, Curves for Women off of Highway 59 in Robertsdale, Campbell’s Hardware and CBEF Board members. You can also go to the group’s Web site, CBEF.org for more information.

“We’re going to have a booth right at the fireworks, with the quilt and the tickets right there,” said Lowery. THE LOLQC consists of Childress, Lowery, Eunice Nordberg, Cathy Byrd, Carol Soesbe, Alice Mueller, Elsie Gilliland, Joann Joy and Juanita Bonhoff

“We will be selling them all day,” said Steve Williams of the Robertsdale Public Works Department, and a CBEF board member.

According to Lowery, about 10 women worked together to create the quilt.

The CBEF is dear the Lowery’s heart. She recently retired from Robertsdale Elementary School, and with the budget constraints facing Baldwin County schools, she knows that the funds the CBEF can provide classroom teachers will be sorely needed. As of this writing, the raffle has raised more than $700 for the group.

Lowery added that while other educational foundations have a number of local businesses to draw on, “Robertsdale is still pretty rural. The local businesses get dollared to death.”

According to the CBEF Web site, the goal of the year-old group is to, “… encourage academic excellence in the Central Baldwin area schools by providing funding which is not available through traditional local, state or federal sources.” The group has given two rounds of grants to local school teachers.

“We need every nickel we can raise,” said Sue Cooper, a member of the CBEF.

That makes the quilt raffle doubly welcome, says CBEF member Brenda Pierce.

“It’s going to be a tough year,” said Pierce.

“This is one of our biggest fundraisers,” said Williams. “They (the quilting group) just volunteered.”