Law enforcement, AARC team to raise money for Special Olympics
Annual ‘Cops at Doughnut Shops’ fundraiser supports local Special Olympic athletes
By Gypsy Crow
ALBANY — Early Friday morning, local law enforcement agencies joined forces with Special Olympics Georgia and the Albany Krispy Kreme for the annual “Cops at Doughnut Shops” fundraiser. Last year during the two day event, the volunteers raised more than $17,000 alone from the donations collected at Krispy Kreme.
The fundraiser will take place all day Friday and Saturday.
“No donation is too small; no donation is too large,” Dougherty County Police Chief Cynthia Battle said.
Members of the Dougherty County Police Department, the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office and the Albany Police Department stood by the intersection of Pine Avenue/Dawson Road and Slappey Boulevard at the Krispy Kreme and collected donations from passersby.
Kristin Caso with the Albany Recreation and Parks Department and the Albany Advocacy Resource Center, which sponsors local Special Olympic athletes, was on hand to give more information and collect donations at the Cops at Doughnut Shops tent in the Krispy Kreme parking lot. Volunteers sold T-shirts and hats as part of the fundraiser.
“None of our athletes ever have to pay anything to participate in the Special Olympics,” Caso said. “Everything we need for registration, board, food, travel and athletic equipment comes from donations.”
Two local Special Olympic athletes, Phillip and Shannon Ford, come out to Cops at Doughnut Shops every year to support the Special Olympics.
“We’ve participated in bowling, basketball and volleyball, but that’s the only sports we do. We don’t do softball. Other athletes do softball, but we don’t do softball,” Shannon Ford said as she and her husband of 24 years showed off their many Special Olympics medals. Phillip and Shannon Ford both said that all of the events are their favorite.
Special Olympics offers athletes like Shannon and Phillip a chance to get out and experience fun, recreational activities with other people.
“When we see our athletes, many have intellectual disabilities,” Dougherty Sheriff Kevin Sproul said. “It seems like the world is against them and that they can’t succeed, but they want to be like everybody else and this is that opportunity we give them to go participate in games. Whether it’s volleyball or bowling or whatever it may be, they take pride in this and it makes them feel like a successful person”
Last year, the Dougherty County Special Olympics team came in third place across the state with $28,485 in donations to Special Olympics Georgia.
According to Sproul, the Cops at Doughnut Shops is the event that law enforcement agencies look forward to the most because it’s one of the weekends that is a “bright light in the community” and it “speaks volumes on how the community comes out and supports the Special Olympics every year.”
Assistant APD Chief Derrell Smith added, “It’s just a way for (the officers) to give back, and to see the excitement in the athletes when they get to use this money. It’s a great thing all the way around.”
Related Articles
Congress weighs packaging bill with implications for Albany manufacturers
A congressional hearing this week on proposed national packaging-labeling standards could have implications for several of Southwest Georgia’s largest manufacturers, many of which produce or package products shipped across state lines.
Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, GBI investigate inmate death
“The sheriff’s office will conduct an administrative investigation to determine if the staff response was appropriate. We have requested that the GBI conduct an investigation.”
Dougherty Jail graduates first class of female GED recipients
“It was an escape. I can say this has been challenging. I want to express my gratitude for being able to attend this program.”
