VOLUNTEERS PREPARE FOR YELL FOR NEWSPAPERS EVENT

Sue Vaughn of Capital Bank says her YELL for Newspapers team will be hard to top this year.

The four members of her team are among hundreds of volunteers who will hit the streets Sept. 13 to hawk a special issue of the Southeast Missourian that benefits local literacy programs.

"We're kind of old cheerleaders," Vaughn said. "And they never die. This gives us a chance to yell and cheer a little."

Enthusiasm pays off. The Capital Bank team has a history of selling out early, and they are challenging all the teams to a sell-out on Sept. 13.

"We all have children, and in my case grandchildren, and realize the importance of this kind of program," Vaughn said.

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

Coordinators met Tuesday to plan for the event and confirm selling sites. Volunteer organizations may still sign up by calling the United Way office at 334-9634.

Volunteers will begin selling newspapers at 6:30 a.m. and continue until the newspapers are sold out, or until 10 a.m.

Last year's campaign raised more than $19,000.

Dorothy Klein of the Area Wide United Way said the United Way and many of its agencies are interested in improving literacy. After two years the event has become a part of the community, she said.

The recommended donation is $2. For that price readers receive the Sept. 13 Southeast Missourian, a special wrap-around YELL edition, a comic book and coupons. Instant prizes, including gift certificates, will be randomly inserted into the YELL editions.

Also, YELL readers have a chance to enter a drawing for prizes including a year's service and telephone from Cybertel and a $250 shopping spree at the YELL advertiser of the winner's choice.

"We build a newspaper issue around parents and children getting involved in reading, learning and literacy," said Kim McDowell, coordinator of the YELL efforts.

The issue includes information on services available to help people improve their reading skills. It also tells success stories within the community.

The idea for YELL developed from old newsboys days held in other cities, including St. Louis and Kansas City. Officials with the local United Way and with the Southeast Missourian were interested in starting a similar program here.