Central High student volunteers want to guarantee a sellout of YELL newspapers Sept. 9 at the school.

So members of the school's Renaissance program will issue signs for students and staff to hold up as they are bombarded with requests to buy the special edition on the way to school. "I'm buying my YELL paper at Central" the signs will say.

The Renaissance students are among dozens of organizations volunteering to help sell the special edition newspaper that helps fund the Youth, Education, Literacy and Learning campaign.

Several prime street corners are available for businesses or groups that want to participate.

Money generated provides teachers with free newspapers to aid in classroom instruction through the Newspaper In Education program.

In addition, grants will be made available to schools and other educational programs throughout the year to buy supplies for special literacy projects.

And while the good-natured competition is encouraged, Kim McDowell, who coordinates the YELL campaign for the newspaper, said a sellout is almost assured. Traditionally the special editions sell out within a few hours.

"Volunteers look forward to it," she said. "It's the easiest one or two hours they can give to community service."

And it's fun, said Doug Rowe, store team leader at Target. "We're dodging cars to sell the papers, but it's a lot of fun."

Cape Girardeau Target store employees will be staking out their assigned corner at Siemers and Route K.

The Target team has sold newspapers at the high-traffic location close to their store for the past three years to help raise money for literacy efforts in the community.

"We know reading and writing are very important to our children," Rowe said. "Education is important to us, and anything we can do to help is worthwhile."

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

In addition to seeking volunteers, YELL organizers are looking for sponsors. By purchasing advertising in the special edition, merchants support the literacy efforts. All the advertising dollars go directly to the Newspaper In Education program.

A preliminary list of organizations and businesses that have volunteered:

Ameritech, Cape Girardeau Public Library, Student International Reading Association, Adult Basic Education, Red Cross, Cape West Rotary, Downtown Rotary, Vision 2000, Cape Girardeau Police Department, CASA, Noon Optimists, Southeast Missouri State University Greek organizations,

Zonta, Girl Scouts, Legal Secretaries, SEMO Recreational Sports Association, Easter Seals, Community Counseling Center, Gibson Recovery Center, Schnucks, Commerce Bank, Evening Optimists, Evening Lions, Mercantile Bank, St. Vincent de Paul grade school, Salvation Army, St. Mary's grade school,

L.J. Schultz School, Cape Central High School Renaissance Program, Central Junior High School, Target, Capaha Bank, JCPenney, Cape County Rotary, NAACP, Val's Upholstery, Notre Dame High School,

Union Planters Bank, Nations Bank, Safe House for Women, VIP Industries, Commerce Bank, First National Bank, Cape Girardeau County Legal Secretaries Association and Boy Scouts.

To reserve a spot contact campaign chairman Sandi Hendricks at 334-0826.