Supplied by the Sault Ste. Marie Rotary Club…

The Sault Ste. Marie Easter Seals Telethon, airing on Sunday, March 31 from noon to 6 p.m., is in need of phone panellists. We are searching for community members with a heart for kids. Just a little donated time can make a BIG difference!

Panelists are trained for 30 minutes and then work a phone for 45 minutes. That’s less time than it takes to watch a movie, but you will be helping children and youth with physical disabilities achieve greater freedom and independence by raising funds for essential mobility and accessibility equipment.

Life can change in an instant – an ultrasound result; a visit to the pediatrician; a child forgets to look both ways. Would you be able to afford a $20,000 electric wheelchair tomorrow? Of the families who requested funding for equipment from Easter Seals and self-reported their annual income in 2018, 63% reported a total family income under $60,000, and 25% had a total family income under $20,000.

Phone panelists can join us as individuals or gather a team to represent an organization or special interest group. A panelist’s job is to accurately and legibly record pledges. We encourage our phone panelists to bring their own phone list along to call out to family, friends and co-workers for donations, and we offer incentive prizes for those who do so.

This will be Shannon Farstad’s third year as a panelist. She first became involved with the telethon 17 years ago when her daughter Isobel, our local 2017-2018 Easter Seals Ambassador, was on the telethon for the first time. “The first time being on a panel was exciting, and it felt good to try to give back a little more,” shared Shannon. “To someone considering being a panelist, go for it! It’s a lot of fun and even being able to raise a few extra dollars is a big help to the big picture!”

If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please contact Carolyn O’Connor at 705-945-1279 or by email at coconnor@easterseals.org.