Snow Dogs get some tourney help
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
The Special Olympics Snow Dogs basketball team is getting some corporate and public help to defer costs associated with the state Special Olympics Basketball Tournament coming up the first week of April at the University of Southern Maine.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS DONATION 
— The Special Olympics Snow Dogs basketball team is the recipient of this month’s kiosk donation at Graves’ Shop ‘n Save. In addition to any money donated by store patrons, Graves’ is kicking in $250 dollars. Pictured are, from left, Don Samiya, store manager; co-owner, Greg Graves; Brian Hamel, Snow Dogs head coach; and Steve Richard, Special Olympics area management team.
Graves’ Shop ‘n Save has designated Special Olympics as its charity of the month and has a kiosk at the front of the store for shoppers to contribute. Graves will also be matching the funds with a $250 contribution.
“We have helped out dozens of charities — the most recent was the homeless shelter and we always do the Kiwanis Club at Christmas time, said Graves’ manager Don Samiya. “Customers have an opportunity to take their change from their purchases or make a donation if they know what it is that month and drop it in the kiosk.”
The supermarket has held monthly fundraisers like this for more than 10 years.
Special Olympics Aroostook Management Team member Steve Richard said, “The athletes look so forward to going down to Portland to the tournament and it is a costly thing to be able to go down and do that.”
“It is tremendous help,” said Snow Dog coach Brian Hamel. “The costs of going to a statewide tournament are high. We are really grateful Graves’ Shop ‘n Save has named Special Olympics as their charity of the month.”
“We are one month from the State Tournament, which starts on April 7 and the players are ready, they’re energized and their skills have improved,” said Hamel.
In addition to the double-elimination tournament there will be a skills competition and the more than 20 players, three coaches and seven chaperones will have a chance to watch a Maine Red Claws basketball game.
