MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Madison County Special Olympics is in need of volunteers and funding ahead of next Tuesday’s annual track and field competition at Milton Frank Stadium.
Special Olympics Track and Field chairwoman Joni Haas said the organization needs around 1,200 volunteers to make sure the athletes get the same experience as years past. Haas said each athlete normally has two volunteers throughout the day but without a significant increase in volunteers that won’t be the case this year.
“It will impact the athletes and the day they have,” Haas said. “They may have to spend a lot more time sitting in the stands waiting for someone to come get them to go do their event.”
Haas said that volunteering for this event is a very fulfilling experience.
“It is a very rewarding experience. Everybody who comes says they are going to come back next year and it’s lots of fun,” Haas said.
The day is one that many of these athletes look forward to each year.
“A lot of people think it’s like a field day but it’s not it is truly a competition,” Haas said. “There are a lot of times during the day that they do have spare time with their escort, throw a football or we have a dance tent and we do tattoos and stuff like that. It is a great day for everybody and any escort who comes and participates even those who participate in executing the event leave the day with a smile on their face.”
The need for volunteers isn’t the only concern for the Special Olympics. Haas said the organization also needs donations to help it continue its mission.
“We in Madison County don’t get any funding from anybody other than what we get donations here, we don’t get any state funding, we don’t get any national funding,” Haas said. “That’s why it’s so vital we can continue to get donations and help from the community.”
If you are interested in volunteering, the deadline to register is Friday. To sign up as a volunteer, visit the signup page.
If you aren’t able to volunteer but would like to help you, you can contact Kay Scott at (256) 651-8925 or [email protected].
The post Madison County Special Olympics desperately needs volunteers, funding appeared first on WHNT.
