They spent some time selling papers on the streets, just like in the Good Old Days, and came away with funds to help support the medical care of Middle Tennessee’s children. The fire departments of Franklin County were again among the top fundraisers in the annual Paper Sale event to support the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The 86th annual Paper Sale, held this past spring, raised $13,782 for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Proceeds go to the Children’s Fund, which supports hundreds of specialty programs that enable the hospital to have the people, programs, and equipment it needs to serve the patients of today and tomorrow.

The fundraiser, previously known as the Palm Sunday Paper Sale, began in 1924 by the Junior League of Nashville to fund the Home for Crippled Children. Today, organizations in Nashville and surrounding counties pass out fact sheets about the Children’s Hospital and solicit gifts.

David Green, chief of the Sewanee Fire Department, says the paper sale is a long standing tradition they intend to continue in support of the hospital and its patients.

“It is not just us in Sewanee,” he said. “There are about 15 fire departments in Franklin county and most help collect. We work hard and it pays off.”

This year, the fire departments raised $8,482 bringing their total since 2005 to $67,698.

“The hospital is such a good thing. Quite a few children from Franklin County go there, and nobody is turned away if they can’t pay. It’s just a good thing to work for,” Green said.

Other top fundraisers for this year’s Paper Sale included BPOE Lodge raised $2,201, Stewart County High School FFA $1,625, Portland High School FFA  $1,225