Kingsville Masonic Lodge donates to Special Olympics

Nov. 4--KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP -- Ashtabula Special Olympics received a boost in October, the result of an August car show.

The Kingsville Masonic Lodge presented the local Special Olympics with a check for $5,300 on Oct. 21. The profits were from the lodge's car show earlier this year.

"We [the masonic lodge] donate every year," Ed Harryman, one of the organizers of the car show, said. This year marked the second annual car show for the lodge, held at the Ashtabula Towne Square.

Much of the things at the car show were donated, Harryman said.

"The Ashtabula Towne Square donates the venue, they advertise for us, they do so much work for us," Harryman said. "All these local businesses we hit up, they help us out. So everything we give away and everything we do that day is pretty much donated stuff."

There were concessions at this year's car show, along with a 50-50 drawing and a basket raffle, Harryman said.

"All the money that comes in from that day goes to the Special Olympics. There's no profit for anybody anywhere but the Special Olympics," Harryman said.

It takes a little time for the numbers to be crunched and the size of the check to be determined after the event, Harryman said.

"They use it for travel and uniforms," Harryman said.

The Special Olympics is a non-profit organization that uses sports, health education, and leadership programs to empower people with intellectual disabilities, according to their website. The Special Olympics were incorporated in 1975. Five million athletes over 174 countries have been involved with the Special Olympics, according to their website.

"It's usually a pretty touching time ... to be able to help out. That's what it's all about," Harryman said.

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