Better Than a Four-Leaf Clover

In addition to direct-mail efforts, for about a week, right before St. Patrick’s Day, volunteers sell shamrock pins with green ribbons for Mercy Home on Chicago street corners, asking donors to wear the pins on certain days to show support. Typically, during the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day, volunteers sell pins around two major parade routes, the South Side Parade and the Downtown Parade. In 2004 a $1 donation was asked per pin; in 2005, it was upped to $2.