On Tuesday, April 4, shoppers at the Merced Save Mart received extra help with their groceries at checkout. Officers from UC Merced, the California Highway Patrol and city firefighters teamed up with Special Olympic athletes to help raise money for the 2017 Law Enforcement Torch Run. The “Bagging for Bucks” event featured athletes and emergency responders bagging groceries and helping shoppers to their cars for “tips.” More than $2,000 was raised for this cause!
Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into Opening Ceremonies of local competitions. They also carry it into Special Olympics State, Provincial, National, Regional and World Games. There are over 97,000 law enforcement members that carry the “Flame of Hope” annually. The flame symbolizes courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe.