On September 25th, members of the Knights of Columbus St. John Neumann Council #16169, joined by Brother Knights from Councils 1274, 13950, 8284, 3292, 3959, and 6549, volunteered at the Special Olympics State Soccer Games at Independence Park in Canton, Michigan. Their mission was simple: keep everyone well fed so the athletes could focus their energy on the games.

 

Brother Knights worked the grills throughout the day, preparing and serving 700 sandwiches, including hot chicken sandwiches and veggie burgers. Others assembled meals, restocked snacks and side dishes, transported and managed the grills, and kept the serving line moving smoothly.

 

Athletes stopped by between matches, coaches grabbed a quick meal, families came in from the sidelines, and referees who kept the games running were served and thanked for their time.

 

A Special Olympics event takes tremendous behind-the-scenes effort. By handling food service, the Knights removed one important task from the organizers’ list and let everyone stay focused on what mattered most—the athletes.

 

And the athletes certainly delivered. They played hard, celebrated goals, encouraged their teammates, and demonstrated the determination, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship that make Special Olympics such a wonderful event.

 

The council extends its sincere thanks to Knights of Columbus State Special Olympics Director Paul Thorn, Assistant Director for Special Olympics Robbie Waclawski, and all the Brother Knights who generously volunteered their time and talents. We also thank the Special Olympics organizers, volunteers, and everyone else who helped make this memorable day possible.

 

Most of all, we thank the athletes for allowing us to be part of their special day. It was our privilege to serve you, and we look forward to doing it again!

 

 

**Credit for this article is attributed to Brother Knight John Faunce of Council 3292