Rain, cold temperatures can’t stop newspaper sales

Terri Johnson of Jamestown buys a paper from Jane Young, Site Supervisor for TRC’s Rehabilitation Services (dressed as Lady Gaga), and Bruce Main, Special Projects Coordinator for TRC’s Individualized Services (dressed as the cowboy from the Village People).

TRC’s fourth annual “Make a Difference Day” collaboration with The Post-Journal on October 27 was a success, with area residents and local businesses combining to buy more than 1,000 papers.

Forecasts of cold temperatures combined with rain or (gasp!) the season’s first snowfall had some volunteers worried.  Temperatures were in the upper 30s and a light mist was falling when volunteers began selling papers shortly after 6:00 a.m., but the rain soon stopped, though it began again around 9:00.  Temperatures remained steady, and in fact the sellers enjoyed the best part of the day’s weather – by afternoon, a steady rain/snow mix had developed, and temperatures had dropped to near freezing.

Volunteers stationed themselves at four key locations – the Tim Hortons restaurants on Main Street and on East Second Street in Jamestown, and the Tim Hortons on Fairmount Avenue in Lakewood; and at Phil ‘n Cindy’s Lunch on East Second Street in Jamestown.  All four locations have participated in the sales all four years, and the steady traffic at Tim Hortons is the main reason the newspaper sales have been successful.

Volunteers (some wearing Halloween costumes) stood outside the restaurants, engaging customers in conversation and telling them about the special TRC edition of the paper.  The TRC edition consists of a four-page “wrap” around the regular paper, with the wrap containing information and photographs about TRC.

This being the fourth year of the “Make a Difference Day” sales, a number of customers commented that they remember this fund-raiser from the past three years.  Many people also commented that they had been aware the sales were taking place through articles in the paper and announcements on local radio stations.

More than $1,000 was raised.  Proceeds from the sale will benefit TRC.

In addition to Tim Hortons and Phil ‘n Cindy’s, we wish to thank the following businesses that bought papers for their employees and customers: Blackstone, Cummins, Dawson Metal, and Jamestown Container.

A special “thank you” goes out to our volunteers and to those who bought a paper and made a difference.  We also thank Julie McCarthy, a member of The Resource Center’s Board of Directors and employee of The Post-Journal, for spearheading this project.  And of course, we thank The P-J for undertaking this great initiative each year.