RUMFORD — On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Circle K and Irving locations across Maine, law enforcement officers will join Special Olympics Maine athletes and other supporters in pumping gas, washing windows and collecting donations.
In the River Valley area, Rumford and Mexico police and Mexico Police Explorers will join athletes from Sandra Hebert’s Emma’s Happy Rebels team of Dixfield at the former Rumford and Mexico Food Trends. The two convenience stores and fuel stations became Circle K last year.
The “To Serve and Protect Day” event is part of the law enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Maine, Rumford police Sgt. Douglas Maifeld said Friday by email.
“You can help us reach and even exceed our goals for 2014 by simply stopping by your local Irving station or Circle K store on July 26 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to get gas and support Special Olympics Maine,” Maifeld said.
This year marks the 15th year that Circle K and Irving have partnered with Special Olympics for the month-long promotion that features $1 Special Olympics cling sales around Maine.
But it’s only the second year for Rumford and Mexico police because Irving and Circle K arrived last year. In the past, Maifeld said he helped out with the event at the Bethel Irving store a few times.
“We also ask that for the remainder of the month, you visit your local Circle K and Irving locations to purchase a 15th anniversary cling or donate your change,” Maifeld said. “Thanks for caring and sharing. We hope to see you there.”
Maifeld said that he and fellow Rumford officers, Matthew Desroches and Detective Sgt. James Bernard will be at the Rumford Circle K on Route 2 at the foot of Falls Hill. Mexico officers and explorers will be at the Mexico Circle K on Route 2 at the intersection of Route 17.
Maifeld said he wasn’t sure how much they raised last year, but they have raised about $300 in each town through the donation buckets.
Phil Geelhoed, president of Special Olympics Maine, said Friday afternoon in Portland that they expect to hopefully raise $15,000 with the overall campaign.
“Last year, the promotion raised in excess of $145,000,” he said. “So it’s a big one for us.”
He said that amount was from the Special Olympics cling sales, donations by Irving based on gas pump fuel sales and donations and collections by law enforcement across Maine.
“We will be at 50 locations across the state tomorrow, so it’s as big as it’s ever been for us,” Geelhoed said. “It’s great public relations for us being associated with law enforcement.”
The fundraiser began 15 years ago when Canada-based Irving Oil partnered with Special Olympics New Hampshire, he said. Then, in 2010, Irving leased its convenience stores to Circle K.
“This will be our 12th year doing this and we couldn’t be happier,” Geelhoed said.
He said the money raised goes into Special Olympics Maine’s annual general budget, a lot of which offsets their Summer Games.
“One hundred percent of it stays with Special Olympics Maine in Maine,” Geelhoed said.
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