HALLOWEE ~EFlVICE Social club tends to needs of area school children Every year;-the Junior Auxiliary of Searcy hosted a Halloween Carnival for the scucienrs at the Sunshine School in Searcy. The Sunshine School enrolled a total of 61 students, ranging from ch ildren to adults who were mentally challenged, giving them a chance to learn in an appropriate environmem. This Halloween Carn ival, held at the Carmichael Center in Searcy, gave students an opportunity to dress up in costumes, play basketball, eat candy and go through the "Spook House." For the past two years, the ladies of Chi Omega Pi were in charge of the "Spook House." The members dressed up, set up a small area that resembled a haunted house and let rhe children walk through it. The girls wore scary masks and were equipped with a bowl of eyeballs and a graveyard for the children to see. One of Chi Omega Pi's beaux pretended to be dead. His look was completed when spaghetti was spread all over him to look like his intestines. The "Spook House," however, was not the only service that Chi Omega Pi was involved in with the Sunshine School. They also bought Christmas presents for all of the children and were active in helping with Special Olympics. Last year, more than halfof the club volunteered to help with Special Olympics. "Special Olympics is definitely my favorite event we do with the Sunshine School," senior and club president Betsy Glover said. "Every year, I work with the same group of boys on the Pentathlon evem, so I always look forward to seeing them again." Glover, who studied to become a licensed special education teacher, said she had a special place in her heart for people with disabilities. "I just wane to make them smile," she said. "They have such big hearts, and 1 absolutely love getting to work with them." In order to supply Christmas presents for students at the Sunshine School, the club was given a list of 61 srudenes for whom participating members bought presems. Sall y Paine was a Chi Omega Pi sp'6nsor and taught at the Sunshine School for 28 years. "These girls are like Santas elves that come early," Paine said. "It is so awesome to see my students' faces light up when they are ripping open their packages and knowing that these girls donated these presents knowing they wouldn't even be here to see the joy they are spreading." Junior Jaime Brown, service director for Chi Omega Pi, said the work the club did with the Sunshine School was very rewarding. "We go to help them, but we leave feeling like they have helped us more," Brown said. "They love life and are so carefree. They could teach us all a lesson." Several other clubs volunteered at the Sunshine School by painting playground equipment and taking studems to movies in the Benson. "These college kids don't realize the impact they have when they work with our smdems," Paine said. "They are unselfishly spreading love the students here at the Sunshine School will never forget." -Erin Smith Wrapping gifts, senior Chi Omega Pi member Karen O'Neil and junior Chi Omega Pi member Chris– tina Gemma prepare their presents for the Sunshine School on Dec. 2 in the Searcy Dinner Theater. The ladies of Chi Omega Pi worked throughout the year w ith the Sunshine School through various activities, including the Special Olympics and a Halloween Carnival. -Courtesy of Karen O'Neil
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