GRATITUDE

Being Involved In A Fundraiser For Special Olympics Was A Surprise

Witnessing people from our community willing to help was no shock

I was minutes away from work yesterday when my Sergeant called. I expected her to inform me that she was busy with a collision on the highway.

Cops on the Coop

Instead, she asked me to re-route to the Chick-fil-A nearby and asked if I could work a 12-hour shift to fundraise for Special Olympics. It was the Cops on the Coop annual event. Throughout the day, a couple of dozen officers and civilians were present. They weaved between the lines of cars in the drive-through asking for donations.

We also had an individual who works at the Sheriff’s Department who wore his medals from the Special Olympic events that he’s won over the years. He also walked up to the cars to interact with people in the community.

In the following 12 hours, we interacted with hundreds of people from our community, and many informed us they came out specifically because of the social notifications that we’d be there.

Excited to donate

Chick-fil-As across the country allow for the same fundraiser for Law Enforcement for Special Olympics. Person after person brought a smile to my face as they approached. I saw small children up to elderly individuals, many excited to see what we were raising money for.

Law Enforcement always gets involved with the Special Olympic athletes for the Torch Run, so it makes sense they would be raising money for the athletes and their families to be able to attend the events. The 12 hours went quickly, and I witnessed individuals more than eager to give.

Although we were thankful for donations of any amount, all donations of $20 earned the donor their choice of a T-shirt or a hat, and they also received other items. We handed out badges for children from the Sheriff’s Office just for showing up.

Soft on the inside

Some weren’t excited to see Law Enforcement, then we explained that we understood, and maybe they weren’t fond of cops, but the fundraiser wasn’t for us; it was 100% for Special Olympic athletes and their families. Once we explained, we usually received a donation from people in those vehicles, too.

Most people, whether in cars or walking up, were happy to donate. Fundraising can be exhausting, but it’s also an activity that reminds us that people, in general, are giving.

Lighting the way

Dusk was settling in as we began breaking down our tent and table, putting away the remaining shirts and hats, and carrying everything back to our vehicles. Some of us still had the energy to keep going, to get just a little more money for the participants and families.

Headlights started turning on as cars came through the drive-through as darkness fell. I remembered that whether on a Torch Run or somewhere else, someone will bring light for another, somewhere, always.