We, the T.A. Youth Advocates, had another day of getting postcards signed. Today's special was free Iced Tea, as long as you signed a postcard. We started the day, by of course making the Iced Tea, with two bags of ice and a huge container of Lipton Iced Tea Powder, which didn't take more than 15 minutes. We had this small, nice and little bicycle cart with this massive cooler on it, all attached to our manager's bike.
On our way to the park, the bike did decide to do flips on to its side, but it was soon put under control. Postcard signing started off slow, but once people heard of the free Iced Tea on this hot hot day, it picked up in a heartbeat. We started our journey from our usual spot right by the Coney Island Avenue exit on the East Drive and started to make our way up toward the Grand Army Plaza entrance. Today I felt we got a lot of support from people who don't usually stop for us, the joggers. Our whole, Sign a Postcard to Save the Park slogan didn't always work. Sometimes shouting Free Iced Tea! then hitting them with the slogan did the trick. There were some people who decide to sign without a drink, those that I offered in thanks, and those that signed only for a drink and immediately asked: Where's the Iced Tea. Either way they were a big help, regardless of their purpose. And I learned the priceless power of free cold liquid on a sweaty summer Prospect Park day.
We continued our journey and finally made it to the Promise Land of Grand Army Plaza. Between the Farmer's Market and the beautiful day, it was hopping. We set up shop and continued work. With the Farmer's Market going on, a steady amount of people were entering and leaving the park. It was our job to catch each and every last one of them, and let them know that their car-free weekend park should be their car-free park everyday.
We were soon joined by the promoters from Burger King, distributing their new product, Apple Fries with Caramel Sauce. The people I truly want to thank are the Burger King Apple Fries Give Away-ers, promoters for Burger King distributing free samples of their new, no trans-fat friendly fast food: sliced apples. At first glance, the smell of competition was in the air, even though all the promoters agreed to sign a card, they were still a challenge. Dressed in green, they set up their own clean and green, bike-cart station not to far from us – and with an attached umbrella and a matching paint job, their set-up was way more swank (though they got dropped off outside the park in a truck a few hours earlier). I thought how was this going to affect our cause, while their just trying to promote. Don't get me wrong, they were very nice people, they supplied us with apple upon apple, their caramel sauce was low-fat. And they were a bigger help than I would have ever thought. I saw that they were able to pull in a crowd of people. Then I would rush to the group before they could leave to enjoy their slices, and hit them with the slogan. This plan worked great, sometimes I would throw in the free Iced Tea, and people lit up. They were shocked that they were getting free stuff left to right, apples, ice tea, and a chance in save the park; too good to be true.
As the day came to an end, I learn that people first reaction is to say no, many people told me no they don't want any, only to turn around after they thought about what I'd said. A lot of people even apologized and told me that is their gut reaction to anyone approaching them on the street. So we left, with almost 500 post cards signed, apple-filled bellies, and a new confidence in the power of free stuff.
