Left to right: Andrew Soule, Braden Stewart, Adam Comer, and Lee Johnson from the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and Hutchinson Police Department enjoy some glazed donuts from Dunkin’ Donuts on 17th Street in Hutchinson as they raise money for the Kansas Special Olympics “Cops at Donut Shops” fundraising event on Friday, August 23. CREDIT KATE IRELAN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE
By Kate Irelan
Bright and early on Friday, August 23, deputies, detectives, and police officers from the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and the Hutchinson Police Department were out in front of Dunkin’ Donuts on 17th Street in Hutchinson. But they weren’t there investigating a crime or accident. They were asking for donations from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. for the Kansas Special Olympics “Cops at Donut Shops” fundraising event.
Andrew Soule, a detective with the Sheriff’s Office, helps coordinate the fundraisers for the law enforcement teams. He is the central region coordinator of the Kansas Special Olympics law enforcement torch run.
Soule said about what got him involved, “I’ve grown up around the Special Olympics movement. My mom was a para[professional at school], and I knew some athletes when I was growing up. When I got into law enforcement, I got some literature and I volunteered to be a liaison for the department. Then, I moved into the central regional coordinator role. And my wife is a special education instructor at HMS-7.”
He said the torch run started in Wichita in 1981 and law enforcement agencies have been involved since then in some capacity.
Events have changed since the torch run which first started to kick off summer State track and field. Now, in Reno County, they hold events like the donuts, Tip a Cop (assist wait staff at restaurants in town), a polar plunge, and others.
They usually do an average of 9 fundraisers annually and the money stays with Kansas Special Olympics. It helps athletes go to competitions, buy sports equipment, and travel expenses. It benefits all athletes across the state with expenses, not just reno county athletes. And it helps athletes get to regional and national competitions.
The next event is “Cover the Cruiser.” Donors receive a medallion sticker to place onto the police car. The goal is to cover the car with medallions. They have not made plans yet for when it will be, but they usually do one with the student council at HMS-7 in October.
Soule said that they post information about their fundraising events on the Reno County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
Another way to find out about state-wide fundraising events for Kansas Special Olympics is through the statewide organization’s website, SOKS.org
For those who miss any of the fundraising events, donations from Reno County residents can be accepted anytime through this link: https://square.link/u/5PsRquL8?src=webqr
