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Last updated on Monday, February 27, 2017
(VIGO CO.) - Saturday, troopers from the Putnamville Post, along with some of their family members, took time out of their busy day to provide fun and fellowship to a group of 45 men and women with disabilities at the local Terre Haute Happiness Bag Facility.
For the past several years, various troopers from the local post have donated their time and effort to play basketball with the Happiness Bag students with disabilities. The students have coined a term for the event titled "Indiana State Trooper Fun Day. The games with the Indiana State Police are eagerly anticipated every year by the students and are considered a huge success in the realm of compassion and fellowship.
During the heartwarming day, troopers and participants from Happiness Bag shared camaraderie, lunch and fun during several games of basketball. The competition was competitive in a fun way, but simple friendship was the order of the day. The Happiness Bag four teams were the Bandits, Shelby's Team Purple, Dustin's Team Carolina Blue, and Caren's Team Orange Sherbert. Dance entertainment during half-time was also provided by students of HB known as the Happiness Bag Hipsters. At the conclusion, troopers presented the athletes and dancers with achievement medals provided by Happiness Bag.
Participating troopers were Tom Hannon, Joe Watts, Chris Wright, Jimmy Cruse, Ty Lightle, Bill Bradbury, Erik Smith, Don Curtis, Rondell Shelton, Polly Blackburn, Troy Stanton, and ISP retirees Chris Effner, Fran Lewis and Dale Mullikin (coach). ISP family members on the court were Alex Bradbury, Devin and Kaitlyn Curtis, Xavier Smith, Lauren and Patrick Wright, and Kate and Betsy Hannon.
In part, the Indiana State Police Mission Statement reads, "ISP personnel will immerse themselves into their communities, where they live and work, providing those communities with dedicated, compassionate, and comprehensive law enforcement services" and the Happiness Bag Mission Statement reads "Happiness Bag, Inc. is dedicated to providing adapted educational and recreational services and programs that encourage the unique potential of children and adults with disabilities". Therefore, Saturday's games were a simple collaboration of the mission statements of both agencies and considered a huge success.
Happiness Bag Incorporated is an independent, not for profit, United Way agency that provides recreational and educational programs and services to individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities in the Wabash Valley. For more information about Happiness Bag Inc., please contact Executive Director Jodi Moan at 812-234-8867.
Photo 1: L to R: Front row....Kaitlyn Curtis, Xavier Smith, Patrick Wright, Lauren Wright, Betsy Hannon, Kate Hannon, and Alex Bradbury...2nd Row...Dale Mullikin, Fran Lewis, Chris Wright, Erik Smith, Ty Lightle, Don Curtis, Devin Curtis, and Joe Watts.....3rd Row...Troy Stanton, Rondell Shelton, Jimmie Cruse, and Bill Bradbury.
Photo 2: L to R: Front Row...Gabrielle Staub (coach), Clayton Bartholoma, Tiffany Stadlberger, and Bobby Strickland.......Back Row: Scott Hamblen, Matt Turner, Craig Cunningham, Josh Strom, Cain Boswell, and Coach Daison Edmonson....Team "Bandits", one of the four teams......
Photo 3 is a simple shot of the action from today.
Volunteer referees were Brisson Wilkes and Ben Downing from Indiana State University.
Additional photos can be seen on the Happiness Bag Facebook page
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