[Oabs] OUt in the field! Getting donations for door prizes!

[Elif Emir]

Kaiti you are fabulous

2014-10-19 20:41 GMT-04:00, Deborah Kendrick via Oabs <oabs at nfbnet.org>:
> Kaiti,
> This just makes me smile from ear to ear.  I worried that all of you might
> think I was making it sound to easy breezy on our call Friday night, but
> you
> took that ball and ran with it and I am thrilled with your results!
> Great job!  And keep it up!
> Remember that even if you don't get donations this year, you are planting
> the seed for next year and the year after that.  Keep up that fabulous
> work!
>
> Deborah
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Oabs [mailto:oabs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti Shelton via
> Oabs
> Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2014 8:27 PM
> To: Ohio Association of Blind Students list
> Subject: [Oabs] OUt in the field! Getting donations for door prizes!
>
> Hi all,
>
> In case you had any doubts on how easy it is to get donations from people
> like I did, here's what I have to tell you.  I've just spent an hour or so
> going up and down Brown Street, which is a huge street with tons of
> restaurants on it just outside of my campus.  I got a lot of shift managers
> rather than general ones, and they will have to follow the chain of command
> to see if their franchises will be willing to let them dole out gift cards
> and to see how much they can give us, but they all were very receptive and
> were really helpful.  All but two restaurants took down my name and number
> on the back of the sponsorship flyer so they could keep in contact with me,
> and the two that didn't told me times I could come in tomorrow and speak
> directly to general managers.
>
> Here is the status of each store I visited:
> Arbie's.  General manager will be in the store from 8:00-2:00 tomorrow.
> Will go there for lunch when class lets out at 11:50.
> Starbucks.  The manager here loved me because I bought a Pumpkin Spice
> Latte
> before I asked her about the sponsorship, and said she'd put in a good word
> for us.  She said the franchise can be really picky about donations, but
> she'll try to levvy for $10 or $15.  If she isn't successful, I'll just get
> one.
> Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  This guy also loved me because I bought
> dinner
> before I asked.  He is going to check with the general manager, but took
> down my number.
> Jimmy Johns.  This manager was willing to give me a "Free sub card"
> right on the spot, but when he checked the back room they were totally out.
> He advised me to come back between 2:00 and 3:00 tomorrow when the general
> manager will be in store and not so busy with lunch orders.
> Penn Station.  This guy will check with his GM, but took down my number and
> said he hopes Penn Station will be able to help.  I think he liked me.
> Panera.  This guy was actually really fascinated by the programs I told him
> about that the Federation does, and said he knows someone who could use
> them
> but he doesn't think that they know about the NFB.  So, that was a cool
> moment.  Panera is usually pretty generous with donations as long as
> they're
> able to cover them, and he said that if we're just asking for a gift card
> or
> a low sponsorship we might get something.  Their system requires people to
> make donation requests online, so he gave me a business card with all the
> information I'll need to do that.
> Chipotle.  This manager took my number, and said he'd talk with his GM.  He
> seemed to think we were a "good cause" though, so I think he'll pull for us
> too.
>
> So, although I have come back to my house empty handed, I have made some
> good contacts and have people who I think will help us out.  They loved
> that
> I was a UD student, and a few were UD students themselves so they were able
> to relate to me a little bit more.  I was sure to go around in UD gear, so
> I
> could substantiate my claims a bit.  I also had my cane folded on the
> counter in front of me when the manager came over to talk, and used it on
> the way in and out of the store so they could see me use it.  Folding it on
> the table was a strategic move, so it was right in front of them and not
> shoved under the table on the floor where they couldn't see it at all.  I
> also mentioned my officer position in OABS, which anyone who holds office
> in
> the division will/is hopefully doing, and I also mentioned that I have been
> a state and national scholarship winner.  I was sure to be very
> appreciative
> after the conversation was over.  My buying of food was also strategic.  I
> knew buying something at a chain like Chipotle or Panera might not make
> much
> of a difference, but the Starbucks has worked with UD before, and Five Guys
> is expanding franchises around the state according to what I've found.
> Side
> note to Emily, I did not get Subway, because I did not have knowledge
> before
> setting out tonight that the one by me had closed down and become an "adult
> store".  So, if you could check Subway if we still want that, or if we are
> happy with Jimmy Johns or Penn Station as substitutes, that would be great.
>
> I will make an excel spreadsheet of this information, and will put it in
> the
> fundraising committee dropbox folder.  Feel free to add information to it
> as
> you get cards.  If you do not have access to this folder, you can email
> your
> information about door prizes to me, and I'll be happy to add it in for
> you.
>
> Now, there is one more stop on my list; I'm going to finish my Five Guys
> before heading down Brown Street the opposite way.  Let's hope that Ben and
> Jerry are as generous with helping us out as they are in creating ice cream
> flavors!
> --
> Kaiti Shelton
> University of Dayton 2016.
> Music Therapy, Psychology, Philosophy
> President, Ohio Association of Blind Students Sigma Alpha Iota-Delta Sigma
>
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