YELL COUNTDOWN BEGINS: READERS ASKED TO HELP OUT

Countdown to the annual YELL campaign has started. During the early morning hours of Sept. 15, volunteers in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City will man street corners and hawk special-edition newspapers.

Proceeds from the special sale go to literacy efforts in the three communities.

Since 1991, the Southeast Missourian has coordinated the publishing and distribution of the YELL edition. YELL stands for Youth, Education, Literacy and Learning.

The newspapers, which sell for $2, include a comic book, a regular issue of the Southeast Missourian, a readers' contest, a reprint of the newspaper's eight-day "Life or Meth" series and a special literacy section.

"It's a package deal," said Kim McDowell, who coordinates YELL. "Everyone who stops at an intersection and buys a YELL paper does a lot for this community."

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.

The Area Wide United Way has been the parenting organization for YELL Day since its beginning, but 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.

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 Newspaper In Education program, which provides area teachers with free newspapers to aid in classroom instruction.

"We're very proud of how people enjoy reading YELL from cover to cover each year," McDowell said. "We work hard to provide stories about people in our community who have walked the road from illiteracy to reading. It is inspiring and motivating for parents and our readers."

For additional information about YELL, contact McDowell at (573) 335-6611.