YELL CAMPAIGN FOR LITERACY SET FOR SEPT. 15

It's almost time to YELL.

Since 1991, the Southeast Missourian has coordinated the publishing and distribution of the special newspaper to be sold by volunteers in the old newsboy hawking style.

The 1998 YELL, or Youth Education Literacy and Learning campaign, will get under way in the early morning hours of Sept. 15. Volunteers in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City will man street corners at about 6 a.m. on that day and hawk special-edition newspapers until they run out.

The newspapers, which sell for $2, include a comic book, a regular issue of the Southeast Missourian, a special contest and "a lot of great stories," said Kim McDowell of the Southeast Missourian.

"The community's response to YELL is fantastic," she said. "People recognize what this program has been doing over the last seven years to promote reading, and it's this enthusiasm that has initiated the greater development of the YELL focus."

Although the Area Wide United Way has been the parenting organization for YELL Day since its beginning, the event will now be coordinated by the newly formed YELL Foundation, McDowell said. The foundation is a not-for-profit organization administered by community leaders, so YELL will continue to belong to the community, she said.

"The YELL Foundation was set up so that in addition to the money raised by selling newspapers, businesses and groups can give charitable donations to this Missouri not-for-profit corporation," she said. "The good thing about all of this is where the money goes."

Funds generated by YELL are used to provide grants to schools and other educational programs throughout the year that promote literacy and citizenship. The event also funds the Newspapers In Education program, which provides area teachers with free newspapers to aid in classroom instruction.

"This has been proven to be a really strong program nationwide that helps kids get interested in reading at all ages," said McDowell. "It's also used to promote community awareness and the latest in current educational topics as they relate to current events."

One of the most popular features of the YELL paper are the stories from community leaders about why and what they like to read. This year, readers of all ages are invited to send in personal essays telling about their favorite books, what they read to their children and why, and other literacy topics, said McDowell.

"We find that people enjoy hearing about what other people like to read, and that has always been a highlight of our YELL edition," she said.

Anyone wishing to submit an essay for YELL should contact Joni Adams, care of the Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699.

Some 200 volunteers are needed for this year's event. Letters soliciting volunteers have already been to businesses, schools and organizations that participated last year, but anyone interested in volunteering can become involved by contacting Mark Kneer at (573) 334-7115.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITES

Readers are invited to send in personal essays about their favorite books, what they read to children and why, and other literacy topics. To submit an essay, contact Joni Adams, care of the Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699.