An inspiring thing happened at Polk County High School Tuesday, April 30.

For the first time in more than a handful of years, community members from around the county joined on Polk County High School’s football field to host the county’s Special Olympics spring games.

Seeing so many people come together to make others feel special was overwhelming.

To think those people didn’t even know that’s what they were doing was more awe-inspiring. You see it really isn’t the “volunteers” who change lives through Special Olympics.

Ask just about anyone who’s ever handed out a ribbon, called runners to the starting line or offered water to an athlete, and they will tell you it’s the participants of Special Olympics who make the real impact.

Their enthusiasm for life is powerful. Each athlete on the field showed support for their peers, appreciation for those helping them and unabated joy at playing the game.