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Dean and Ben Krimmel began volunteering in 2006 as a one-time Bar Mitzvah project for Ben, “got hooked” and have continued to coach each year since.

“It absolutely became part of our lives,” said Dean. “It’s an enjoyable and worthwhile activity [and] it opened our eyes to a part of the world that we didn’t know about.”

The duo said that in addition to sharing their love of basketball they have fun and share a rapport with the athletes, one of whom has jokingly dubbed Dean “Grandpa.”

“I connected with people I didn’t think I could connect with,” said Ben.
He recalled his first day as an assistant coach.

“I remember walking in the gym with my dad. All of these people were running around and I was unusually nervous and tense. Then suddenly, someone from behind me grabs my shoulders and massages me. I turn around and its one of the athletes who just smiles at me and runs away. I was immediately calmed.”

Another volunteer, Laura Postin, 27, began as a volunteer basketball coach in 2008. She continued coaching, adding track and field as well as soccer to her SOMDBA repertoire.

“I’ve always loved sports and I’ve always wanted to volunteer with Special Olympics,” she said.

Postin said she likes the ideals behind the Special Olympics as well as the opportunities it provides to athletes who otherwise might not have them. In addition, she has enjoyed seeing the athletes grow.

“Whether it’s an improved attention span, being able to stay on task longer, better physical conditioning or being able to run faster… it’s really phenomenal to see the progress that they make from year to year.”

Cindy Dickens’s son, Jacob Gallagher is 21 and intellectually disabled. She was always interested in having him become involved in SOMDBA and was surprised to learn that the organization was largely volunteer-driven.

“I think a lot of parents don’t realize that the coaches are volunteers,” she said. “Jacob started off in weightlifting. He now does basketball and track and field. He absolutely loves it.”

Dickens said that when the position for Family Coordinator became open, she said to herself, “‘Oh, I can do that.’ ”

Dickens helps compile new family member forms and reach out to families of SOMDBA athletes. And although she admits she hasn’t been able to attend many of the Management Team meetings she said, “By volunteering…I appreciate the amazing commitment because everyone’s a volunteer. There are people who don’t even have athletes who are putting in hours and hours of work.”

“I’m very appreciative of the whole thing,” Dickens said of SOMDBA. “I love being a part of it.”

Copyright © 2010 Amanda Knittle & Special Olympics Maryland Baltimore County