MAGNOLIA – Mulerider Athletics and its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee have announced that as a result of the joint "Boo My Yard" community-wide initiative that took place in late October $1200 was raised for Magnolia Specialized Services. On Friday morning, the department presented the nonprofit organization with a check totaling the aforementioned amount. In attendance for the presentation on behalf of the department were Southern Arkansas University Director of Athletics Steve Browning and SAU Assistant Director of Athletics/Senior Woman Administrator and SAAC Advisor Sage Woodham, as well as SAAC President Morgan Gross and SAAC Vice President Charlie Thomas. Accepting the check on behalf of MSS were Executive Director Sara Carrington, Paula Hughes, MSS bus driver Herman Richard, and MSS students Jayden Morales and Athena Treece.
 
"With the uncertainty of how many people would trick-or-treat this year, I was proud to see how Mulerider Athletics provided families with a safe alternative in addition to supporting Magnolia Specialized Services at the same time," remarked Browning. "Sage and members of SAAC did an outstanding job with this community service project!"
 
"Due to COVID-19, our student-athlete advisory committee was adamant about trying to find a way to bring about some bit of normalcy to the community," noted Woodham. "Boo My Yard" was the brain child of SAAC and Mulerider Athletics. We are thrilled about its success and to have the opportunity to make a donation to such a great non-profit."
 
Individuals interested in sending a "Boo" could purchase trick or treat bags ranging from $15 to $50 that varied in candy, prizes and type of bag. All orders included delivery within 15 miles of SAU and each bag was delivered on the Friday before Halloween.
 
Included in the funds raised for MSS, members of the Magnolia community graciously sponsored 36 bags of candy for MSS students as special needs students could potentially have health issues that would put them at a higher risk for COVID-19.
 
The idea for the event was born out of the desire to give some sort of normalcy to the children of the community due to the uncertainty of what local health officials would allow during Halloween. The event allowed kids to avoid the risk of going house-to-house to trick or treat while still being able to enjoy receiving candy.
 
ABOUT MSS (https://www.magnoliaspecializedservices.com)
Since 1968, Magnolia Specialized Services has provided opportunities and choices for those with developmental delays and disabilities. Among those opportunities are individualized day programs that address applicable goals and objectives such as:
 
-Employment training
-Speech, occupational and physical therapies
-Adult Group home and apartment living arrangements
-Employment within Magnolia Specialized Services, paying at least minimum wage
-Transportation to and from day programs, to places in the community, to Special Olympics events and to selected vacation destinations
-The provision of skilled staff to assist individuals in their homes, in order to allow for more independent living.