BOONEVILLE – Mary Carpenter sells a lot of chicken. But during the last three weeks in May, she also sold plenty of $1 “pinups” to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In fact, Carpenter sold 1,579 of the fundraising tickets to customers, helping the Booneville Dodge’s Chicken Store raise the most money among 19 stores.

On Thursday, Dodge’s presented a check for $13,130 to St. Jude, which means Carpenter sold about 12 percent of the total money raised.

“I just asked customers if they wanted to donate, and they kind of sold themselves,” she said.

Also helping spur sales was the fact that Amber Peeks, an area youth, has been a patient at St. Jude.

“We talked about doing this for Amber and rallying around her,” Carpenter said.

St. Jude representative Jessami Jacobson said all the Dodge’s Stores did a great job.

“This was a new program, and they did this in just three weeks,” she said.

It was the first time for Dodge’s to participate, said company senior vice president Nat Leathers, but not the last.

“We were happy to be able to give back a little to the communities we serve,” he said. “I know people and have had several friends who have had to go to St. Jude. It’s a wonderful charity.”

For her efforts, Carpenter gets a stay at the famous Peabody Hotel in Memphis and a tour of St. Jude.

In October, Dodge’s and St. Jude will work together again on another fundraising promotion.