Chow down for a great cause this coming Tuesday night (10/18/2011) at Toot's Good Food and Fun in Smyrna. The School Resource Officers from the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office will be at the popular 301 Sam Ridley Parkway eatery from 5:00 until 8:00 that evening to serve great food and offer unique entertainment! Funds raised will pay for expenses for 200 Special Olympics athletes competing in a Rutherford County bowling tournament on October 27th at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
Special Olympics allow intellectually disabled students from Rutherford County and Murfreesboro city schools and adults to compete in athletic events throughout the year.
“Wings and Rings” debuted last April at the Toot’s restaurant on South Church Street. Proceeds of the event helped pay expenses for the annual Special Olympics Track and Field event at MTSU and the state tournament in May in Nashville.
Special Olympics co-chair John Harris said because of the success of the first event, the Special Olympics board, Toot’s owner Wade Hays and the SROs agreed to sponsor three “Wings and Rings” events during the school year. The Oct. 18 event will help fund the bowling tournament, the April 5, 2012 event at the South Church Street Toot’s will help fund the track and field competition and the May 8, 2012 event at the Broad Street Toot’s will help sponsor athletes to the state competition.
“People going out to eat one night will allow Special Olympics athletes to participate in local, state and national games,” Harris said. “We are able to do that because of ‘Wings and Rings.’ All the funds are for the athletes.”
Special Olympics co-chair Lou Paschall said the major cost of Special Olympics events is paying bus drivers to transport the students to the events.
Harris said Special Olympics has a great partnership with Toot’s and the SROs to make “Wings and Rings” successful for the athletes.
Toot’s owner Hays said customers can enjoy themselves while supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities. He appreciates the partnership with Special Olympics and the sheriff’s office’s SROs.
“Wings and Rings was our first fund-raising event at the South Church Street Toot’s,” Hays said. “Our employees had a good time serving while the SROs entertained the customers. It was good food and fun.”
SRO Capt. Barry Hendrixson said SRO Dick Peach has been an ardent supporter of the Special Olympics program for years.
“One of the reasons the SROs support Special Olympics so much is the money raised goes to local organizations and stays in the county,” Hendrixson said. “SROs encourage all teachers, students and their families to support the SROs and Special Olympics.”