The Kiwanis Club’s speaker during its weekly lunch meeting on Thursday Jan. 12 was Special Education Director Michelle Coppedge with the Chilton County Board of Education.

Coppedge spoke on behalf of Special Olympics and the annual event that is scheduled to take place this year in Chilton County on Thursday April 27 or Friday April 28. Friday would serve as a rain day in the case of weather.

Though the ceremony is not until April, Coppedge informed the Kiwanis Club members that it is never too early to begin preparation for the big day.

According to Coppedge, the continued goal is to have representation of children from all 12 schools in the county participating in the event.

“They are all unique in their own way,” Coppedge said.

About 120 kids participate annually each year.

“It is a day designed just for them,” Coppedge said.

Right now the committee is in the early planning stages and is still working out certain details surrounding the event.

Coppedge stressed the importance of donations and volunteers. Each year the event has operated strictly on donations from the community.

Donations will be used toward transportation, food and the cost of the t-shirts that each athlete will receive, while volunteers will be instrumental in the operations and setup of the event.

“It is a very heart-warming time for everyone involved,” Coppedge said. “It will make you realize that there are certain things that we take for granted. They work harder than anyone to have those things.”