Paper Sales

Sales of Observer's "Laurel Run" edition raise $2,000

For Laurel Run 2007, The Resource Center and the Observer partnered to publish a "Laurel Run" edition of the paper. Printed July 11, 2007, dozens of volunteers hit the streets early that morning to hawk the papers to passing motorists.

When we decided to take on this endeavor, we didn't know what to expect. The sale of the special edition of the Billy Mead Run had always done so well, we didn't know whether a Laurel Run paper would be able to approach that level of success. The Northern Chautauqua County community really rallied behind Billy Mead and his family to make those newspaper sales so successful, and we weren't sure a similar sale to support Laurel Run would be something that would resonate with the public.

We needn't have worried.

The Laurel Run newspaper sale was incredible. In Westfield, Brocton, Fredonia, Dunkirk, Sheridan, Silver Creek, Irving, Gowanda, Forestville and Cassadaga, volunteers were out in the community as early as 6:30 a.m., selling papers to motorists. The newspaper sales were predictably strong in the Hotellings' home base of Irving and Silver Creek. But we were pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support the papers received in other areas. Virtually all of the sales locations in Dunkirk and Fredonia sold out of their papers at least once, and organizers scrambled to deliver additional papers to those sites to keep the momentum going. In Brocton, sales were lagging until a shift change at the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Facility, and then many prison employees on their way to or from work stopped to buy a paper.

When all was said and done, we had sold about 95 percent of the 2,200 papers that had been published for the special edition, and some people went to the Observer's offices after the sale ended and bought a copy.

There are too many people to single out for their involvement in making the Laurel Runedition a success, but we do want to recognize some of them. First, we wish to thank the various local governments for allowing us to sell the papers. We also want to thank those businesses that allowed us to sell papers at their locations: Brooks Hospital, TLC, SUNY-Fredonia, Tim Hortons in Gowanda and Irving, Wal-Mart in Fredonia, McDonald’s in Westfield and Cave’s in Forestville.

And of course, there were our volunteer newspaper hawkers themselves. A number ofTRC employees helped sell papers, but so too did several individuals with disabilities who receive services from The Resource Center and who took great pride in being part of the newspaper sales. We were particularly buoyed by the willingness of people from the community to wake up early to come out and sell papers. A number of the Hotellings' friends helped out, and everyone did a terrific job – especially the group of Fredonia High School students who collectively raised $477.

We extend our deep and sincere appreciation toPublisher John D’Agostino and his staff at the Observer for their willingness to undertake this project and their determination to see it be successful. An endeavor of this magnitude means asking a lot of people to make an additional effort beyond their regular job duties, and the staff of the Observer responded. We also thank the Observer and WDOE/WBKX for promoting the newspaper sale and spreading the word to the community.

But most of all, we thank everyone who purchased a Laurel Run edition. The paper cost $1, but many people gave more than that (one gentleman gave a $50 bill and told us to keep the change!) Even when we had sold out of papers in some locations, people would stop to make a donation. The main goal of Laurel Run is to raise public awareness about people with disabilities, and the response from people to our newspaper sale shows that many people already possess an appreciation for people with disabilities and The Resource Center’s mission. And that is truly heartwarming.

Money raised through Laurel Run stays in Chautauqua County, going to TRC Foundation to support disability awareness and prevention efforts. Many parents are unaware of what signs to look for that could indicate their child may have a disability or a developmental delay. The Resource Center can help identify developmental delays and then assist parents in obtaining the services their children need.

Laurel Run proceeds also are used to enhance employment and work training opportunities for adults with disabilities at The Resource Center's Work Centers. Thanks to TRC, hundreds of people with disabilities each year can know the satisfaction and self-esteem that come from earning a paycheck.

Again, "THANK YOU" to everyone who supported Laurel Run. And we hope you will attend this year's Laurel Run events as we continue to celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities.

Extra! Extra!

The second annual sale of the Laurel Run edition of the Observer newspaper will take place Wednesday, July 9. Volunteers will fan out over the Northern Chautauqua County area to sell limited-edition copies of that day’s newspaper, which will feature a Laurel Run cover. The papers cost $1 each, with proceeds benefiting Laurel Run.

At this time, it is expected that volunteers will sell papers on street corners and at business locations from 6:00 to 8:30 a.m. in Westfield, Brocton, Dunkirk, Fredonia, Cassadaga, Forestville, Silver Creek, and Gowanda. Anyone wishing to become involved by volunteering to sell papers should contact Steve Waterson at trcpr@windstream.net.