LIHU‘E — Starting Thursday and continuing through Saturday, volunteer off-duty law enforcement officers will be on the rooftop of Walmart Lihu‘e for the Special Olympics Hawai‘i Badges and Buckets fundraiser.
During the event that was formerly known as “Cop on Top,” the volunteer off-duty officers will be performing a community service by being perched on the Walmart roof while Kaua‘i Special Olympics, and other community volunteers, will be collecting donations while keeping the event exciting for Walmart shoppers and Special Olympics supporters.
“Our ‘Badges and Buckets’ fundraiser provides grassroots support to our programs that promote inclusion and provides sports training, competition, health, wellness and leadership opportunities for individuals of all ages with intellectual disabilities,” said Special Olympics Hawai‘i President and CEO Dan Epstein.
“We are truly grateful for the dedication of all our off-duty law enforcement volunteers and for the generosity of our community.”
Special Olympics Hawa‘i, Kaua‘i Area Director Jocelyn Barriga said the off-duty volunteer law enforcement officers will be on the rooftop for three days and two nights to support the Special Olympic Hawai‘i ‘ohana.
Leona Sa McDermott, a Special Olympics Kaua‘i coach, said, “We’ll be there at Walmart Lihu‘e starting Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and ending on Saturday at 1 p.m.”
“Special Olympics Hawai‘i has a special place in the hearts of our officers, and we look forward to this event each year as an opportunity to go out into the community and share how exceptional these athletes and programs are,” said State Law Enforcement Torch Run Director Ryan Nishibun.
Donations collected from Badges and Buckets, including donations for special event supporter wear and other swag, directly benefit Special Olympics Kaua‘i and its work to provide sports, health and wellness, leadership, and inclusionary programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round.
There is never a fee to any athlete or family to participate in Special Olympics programs.
For more information on Special Olympics Hawai‘i, visit www.sohawaii.org.
Special Olympics Hawai‘i was founded in 1968 and has grown to serve more than 6,000 athletes and unified partners — many of whom will be volunteering to collect donations — across the state of Hawai‘i.
Through the unwavering commitment of 10,000 volunteers, and with the aid of community supporters, corporate partners, and foundations, Special Olympics Hawai‘i delivers 10 Olympic-type sports and more than 50 competitions, hundreds of health screenings and inclusive programming in more than 70 schools each year.
