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

[Kaiti Shelton]

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