YELL DAY NETS $31,600 FOR LITERACY PRO

It took more than a sprinkling of rain to dampen the spirits of volunteers hawking newspapers for literacy in the annual YELL campaign Tuesday.

"I started worrying about the weather, but I've got my emergency poncho in my pocket," said American Business Women's Association member Terri Tomlin, who sold newspapers newsboy-style at the corner of Main and Hope streets in Jackson Tuesday morning.

Volunteers representing dozens of organizations in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City were not dissuaded by overnight thunderstorms or the light drizzle that greeted them early Tuesday when they arrived at the Southeast Missourian office to pick up copies of the newspaper. They gamely grabbed their papers, signs and aprons and proceeded to designated street corners to hawk the special-edition newspapers, which sold for $2 apiece, to support the annual Youth, Education, Literacy and Learning, or YELL, campaign.

In all, nearly 8,000 YELL papers were sold and $31,600 was raised for YELL this year. More than $270,000 has been raised through the annual effort begun in 1991 to support grants for special literacy projects and the Southeast Missourian's Newspapers in Education program. NIE distributes newspapers to teachers for use in their classrooms at no cost.

At the corner of William and Sprigg streets, Cornelius Sides demonstrated a hawking skill learned on the streets of Chicago years ago.

"No one takes this corner but me," said Sides, nimbly darting through four lanes of traffic. "I try to get off from the intersection and catch them before they get to the light so they know what we're doing. You learn to keep on your toes, though, 'cause they'll get you, otherwise."

Volunteers were pleased with the response as they hawked the papers throughout the morning. Although the rain kept some people from letting their windows down and buying a paper, many people still took the extra minute to make a donation.

"It's amazing to me how many people don't know what it's about," said volunteer Karen Muir, after a quick explanation led to her selling a paper to a newcomer to the community. "But this is an excellent project, and all you've got to do is tell them what it's about, and a lot of them will buy it."

This year's YELL campaign was coordinated by the YELL Foundation, which was established in 1999. The campaign previously operated under the auspices of the Area Wide United Way.

The YELL Foundation, a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization, was created to conduct additional fund raisers and allow businesses and corporations that make YELL donations to write them off as charitable contributions.

Foundation member Kim McDowell said the massive volunteer effort is what makes the annual event special in the community.

"We love the volunteers, and we appreciate that they come out for two hours, even when the raindrops are falling," she said. "The corporate sponsors of YELL have the biggest hearts of all, because they give really big donations to help every year."

A few editions of the YELL edition still remain and may be purchased at the Southeast Missourian office, 301 Broadway.