Generosity abounds at Wagoner Special Olympics fundraiser

The generosity of Wagoner residents was quite evident on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the First Baptist Church gymnasium when the Wagoner Special Olympics program hosted its annual Breakfast with Santa event for Wagoner Special Athletes.

This year's pancake and sausage breakfast, complete with silent auction, raised $1,600. Special Education Director Tammy McDaris said those funds will be used to defray team expenses in the coming months.

Firefighters with the Wagoner Fire Department prepared the meal and students with the Interact Organization at Wagoner High School served a steady flow of patrons throughout the morning.

So how important is this fundraiser for the special athletes?

"We have to pay registration fees to enter our Special Olympic tournaments," McDaris reminded. "We have 15-20 athletes in grades 3-12 and their unified partners, and every year we compete in volleyball, soccer, bocce and track tournaments. We hope to add bowling in the year to come."

"We plan to go to the Winter Olympic Games and play volleyball in January, and then compete in the Oklahoma Special Olympic games in Stillwater in May," she added. "We will be gone for three days in Stillwater."

Breakfast patrons enjoyed bidding on a host of silent auction baskets, four of which were put together by the special education teachers at each WPS campus.

Meanwhile, children enjoyed visiting with Santa Claus and making several craft items to take home.

"We are so very thankful for all the giving the people have done to help Special Olympics," McDaris said. "Every time we go downtown to ask for donations, we never get denied. The merchants are so giving, handing us a check and asking what they can do to help."

"We have been very blessed by the community and Wagoner is a great community for giving!" she concluded.