Before Dec. 2 Old Newsboys Day funds come in, Watertown Salvation Army already planning for next year

Before the total amount of money raised from the 65th annual Old Newsboys Day comes in next week, the Watertown Salvation Army already has outlined a plan to improve its second-largest fundraiser next year.

Watertown Salvation Army Capt. Evelyn M. Hopping said it’s important to get a jump-start on next year’s event so the committee solidifies additional volunteers and locations to increase money collected for the 2012 Old Newsboys Day.

“This year we’ll have a debriefing meeting to think of ways it can improve,” she said.

Old Newsboys Day was held Friday. Sponsored by the Watertown Daily Times, participants sell copies of the newspaper for prices ranging from 75 cents to hundreds of dollars. The Salvation Army bought 3,900 papers at wholesale cost. Newspapers are sold by volunteer street sellers and within company offices throughout Watertown and select parts of Jefferson County.

Agency volunteers and board members also plan to talk with representatives of Fort Drum to see if units may want to participate next year.

This year, there were seven new street sellers, and representatives from the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Watertown Elks Lodge 496 and other organizations also were new to Old Newsboys Day.

Twenty-six individual street sellers and 16 businesses and organizations participated. Only 21 individual sellers helped last year, and slightly fewer businesses.

The top seller collected more than one-third of the fundraiser goal of $30,000, but Capt. Hopping said the $1, $5 or $10+ donations from people mean just as much as large donations.

Joseph Brosk collected $37.25 for the two hours he spent selling newspapers in Price Chopper Plaza. The Salvation Army volunteer said he most likely will reserve a couple of hours of his day next Old Newsboys Day to help the agency out again.

“I just like volunteering,” Mr. Brosk said. “I volunteer there for other things, too.”

Funds raised through Old Newsboys Day will go toward the Salvation Army’s Christmas effort, to give children toys and families food to make a traditional Christmas dinner.

Capt. Hopping said she already is overwhelmed by the generosity of the community from Thanksgiving. Last year’s dinner sponsor could not support it financially this year, so the Salvation Army looked to the community for food and monetary donations.

The appeal was well received, and not only were about 500 people served a Thanksgiving Day meal, but there are 100 frozen turkeys left over, which the Salvation Army will use toward the Christmas food basket giveaway.

Capt. Hopping said that alone will cut down on Christmas expenses, so money raised from Old Newsboys Day can be used for additional food items and toys.

If Old Newsboys Day ceased to exist, the agency would lose about 7.5 percent of its annual operating budget of $400,000.

David L. Bonney, volunteer coordinator for Old Newsboys Day, said he is taking more volunteers this year as a positive sign for years to come.

“If we don’t have that person there selling, then we lose out,” he said. “I used to send six to eight people to the mall, and now I have two.”

People still may contribute to the effort by making a check payable to “Watertown Salvation Army,” with “Old Newsboys Day” in the memo line, and dropping it off at or mailing it to Watertown Salvation Army, 723 State St., Watertown, N.Y. 13601.