GROUPS CAN APPLY FOR YELL GRANTS BY OCT. 15

Organizations in Scott City, Cape Girardeau and Jackson that promote literacy can apply for YELL funding through the Area Wide United Way.

Deadline for applying for the funding is Oct. 15, said Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the local United Way chapter. Applicants should contact the chapter to be sent an information packet on the program.

Application forms will be found in the Southeast Missourian after YELL Day. Information required includes whether the program is newly created or ongoing, how much the program will deal with literacy, how much funding is required, its goals and how many people it will reach.

"It's all about the children," said Frank Ellis, chairman of this year's campaign. "We want children in our community to be literate and to be able to be productive citizens."

Funds may be used to purchase books, computers or other materials.

YELL is expected to raise about $20,000 this year. Half will go to local programs, while the other half will go to the Southeast Missourian's Newspapers In Education program.