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Pete's raises a little green for a good cause
A friendly St. Patrick's Day competition between local Pump 'N Pete's stores raised some green for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Larry Sinclair, an employee of the Pete's at 603 S. National Ave., dressed in a kilt and pumped gas for a few hours Saturday to entice people to donate to the organization. Although he offered to pump gas and wash windows for customers who gave at least $1 to MDA, Sinclair said most people just made a donation and pumped their own gas.
"I was kind of surprised by that. I thought people would jump at that," he said.
He added, however, that he was able to pump some gas and was pleased that people were still donating to a good cause.
Store Manager Amanda Thron said the store's goal during the fundraising campaign was $1,000, and as of Monday, about $1,080 had been collected. Staff and local volunteers dressed in green held a bake sale -- including cakes and cupcakes with green icing -- and sold hot dogs and refreshments outside the store with all proceeds going to MDA. Customers could also make donations inside the store.
Local youngsters, also sporting green clothing, with green balloons held handmade signs above their heads beckoning motorists to drive in and donate.
For two hours on March 10 at the Pump 'N Pete's at 1920 S. Main St., leprechauns pumped gas and washed windows for customers, provided they donated at least $1 for each service.
Store Manager Rachel Pearson said her store also set a $1,000 goal during the campaign. As of March 19, the total stood at $989.
When customers make donations, they receive a shamrock to write their names on. The shamrocks are then displayed at each store.
"They put their names on them to show they are proud of donating a dollar," Thron said. "We've got them hanging in the store."
Sinclair said the store at 603 S. National Ave., brought in $164 through pumping gas and the hot dog and bake sales. Most donations came from the store's regular customers in Fort Scott and Bourbon County.
Sinclair added he thinks the store performed well in the district competition.
"All in all, I think we did very well," he said.
The idea of Sinclair donning a kilt and pumping gas for customers to help draw more contributions started last year and "we just kind of ran with it," he said. This year, the event grew to include other activities to raise funds for the MDA.
"In three days last year, we raised like, $200," he said. "This year, we thought we'd take it a step further and do something a little bit bigger. The idea of a bake sale came up. In just a few hours this year, we did $164. Next year, maybe we'll do a two-day event, but I don't know."
Sinclair wore his kilt last year in honor of meeting his MDA shamrock selling goal.
He has lived in Fort Scott for about five years and worked at Pete's for nearly three years. He purchased his kilt from someone at an Irish festival in Dallas, Texas. He had lived in nearby Arlington for about 10 years. Since moving to Fort Scott, he only wears the kilt once a year on St. Patrick's Day.
Shamrocks Against Dystrophy, the nation's largest charitable organization associated with St. Patrick's Day, supports MDA's programs of worldwide research, life-enhancing services and vital education, the MDA website said.
MDA funds nearly 400 research projects, maintains 225 hospital-affiliated MDA clinics, offers summer camps for youngsters with neuromuscular diseases, and assists with the purchase of wheelchairs, leg braces and communication devices, the site said.