Of all the volunteer opportunities around York, assisting at the Special Olympics is probably one of the most heartfelt and “special” chances to help out in which you can take part.
Founded in 1968 as a fully nonprofit organization and currently extending across the world to over four million athletes, the Special Olympics program is designed to train and compete any and all athletes with mental disabilities. The trainers, coaches, partners, and even the motivators of these athletes are regular volunteers who offer up their time for such a wonderful cause.
The sports offered by the program range from basic running to figure skating, even to obscure events such as snowshoeing. Participants in the Special Olympics include adults and children of most ages. For most events, volunteers are matched up with a partner athlete they encourage and cheer for, making even more out of the experience for the participant.
While each and every event depends solely upon the individual counties and cities who uphold the program, they also range from events dealing with individual sports to a full blown reenactment of the actual Olympics.
Not only do people help support the program by devoting their time to the athletes and their events, but individuals and entire groups of people as young as school-aged children have been known to donate through other methods. Just in mid-April, all five local high schools of Georgia’s Forsythe county battled to raise the most money through an all-day carwash. Collectively, both regular and handicapped students helped to raise over $8,500 to support the Forsythe county chapter of the program.
Many of the students who attended and donated their time have also been signed up to pair with a buddy athlete when their events roll around in early Spring.
Touching the lives and making the dreams of mentally handicapped athletes ever since its beginning, the Special Olympics is an awesome experience to give your time to. If you need volunteer hours and would like to make someone’s day, consider joining!