4 days ago
Goodwill celebrates Special Olympics athletes in North Haven
NORTH HAVEN (WTNH) — Coming up this Friday are the opening ceremonies of the 2025 Connecticut Special Olympics. Some of the athletes taking part are clients of the Goodwill organization. Goodwill is celebrating those special athletes.
John Cheesman is working his normal job on Wednesday at the Goodwill donation center in North Haven.
Annual Special Olympics Torch Run begins in Connecticut
'I sort the clothes, give them to my co-workers if they're nice and clean,' Cheesman said.
Goodwill is much more than just a place to donate your used clothes. They use the proceeds from selling your old things to provide all kinds of care and activities for folks like Cheesman with all kinds of levels of abilities.
'We come up with programs to keep them active, taking them out, just to keep them going,' Jmaela Douglas, a community activities specialist with Goodwill, said.
On Wednesday, they are celebrating John and everyone else who will be showing off their skills at the Special Olympics this weekend. It's an empowering opportunity that helps people with intellectual disabilities on and off the field
'They get to show off their skills, but it's great camaraderie,' said Goodwill senior director of programs Brian Walsh. 'People that they work with, spend days with, live with, it's a great opportunity for them.'
Cheesman is a veteran by now. He will be competing in three events.
'Softball throw, standing long jump, and 50-meter walk,' Cheesman said.
While there might not be cheering crowds for John Cheesman, the clothes sorter, it's a different story for John Cheesman, the Special Olympian.
'Different people that go there say 'John, you did a good job!'' Cheesman said, adding hot it makes him feel. 'Very good, very good.'
Over the next couple of days, you're going to see plenty of faces you know from News 8, like Laura Hutchinson, joining law enforcement officers in running the Special Olympics torch all over Connecticut.
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