VOLUNTEERS FOR YELL NEED TO RESERVE PLACES

Volunteers who plan to hawk newspapers on street corners in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City next month need to reserve their spots for the third annual YELL campaign.

On Sept. 14, hundreds of people will be working to raise money for Youth, Education, Literacy and Learning YELL.

"We still need volunteers," said Dorothy Klein, executive director of the United Way. "We are contacting organizations that participated last year to see if they plan to participate again this year."

At the end of last year's event, many groups reserved a street corner for this year; others did not.

Klein said she is in the process of finding volunteers for busy intersections in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Scott City efforts are being coordinated by Edyth Davidson.

"We feel it really works better if a group volunteers. It's more fun and it just works better," she said.

Klein recommended that service clubs, church groups, PTA, and businesses consider participating.

"They need to come in and designate a corner. We are encouraging the volunteers to take some ownership of that corner with banners and to wear T-shirts to let people know who they are."

Volunteers work just one day ... actually, only a couple of hours in the morning.

The event is coordinated by the Area Wide United Way, the Southeast Missourian and Cash-Book Journal.

Money raised through this campaign is divided equally between the Southeast Missourian's Newspaper in Education program, which serves five counties, and special literacy grants administered by the United Way.

Last year, YELL occurred over two days. This year all activities are scheduled the same day.

The Cash-Book Journal is moving its publication date to Tuesday that week, said Kim McDowell, Newspaper In Education coordinator for the Southeast Missourian.

Volunteers will begin selling newspapers at 6:30 a.m. and continue until the newspapers are sold out, about 8:30 or 9 a.m.

McDowell said 10,000 special editions of the Southeast Missourian will be printed; the Cash-Book Journal will print 1,800.

"The special edition of the Southeast Missourian will include articles on United Way agencies, literacy efforts in the area and on Newspapers in Education."

A comic book will be placed in each edition, thanks to VIP Industries.

A variety of instant prizes will be randomly inserted in YELL editions. Bonus prize claim numbers will also be included in the newspaper.

The recommended donation is $2.

"Hawking is allowed only this one day a year," McDowell said. "It's very nostalgic to go out on the street corners and sell newspapers. That is fun in itself.

"And volunteers are helping the community in a major effort. We find a lot of support for literacy in our community," she said. "People feel it is very important. Literacy is helping our people help themselves."

Funds raised through the YELL campaign are not part of the United Way's annual fund-raising campaign, conducted during the fall.

For information or to volunteer, call the United Way at 334-9634.