By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Tavern in the Square Restaurant, located at 193 Boston Turnpike, was the place to be on July 16 as half dozen Shrewsbury police officers participated in a special fundraiser, “tip-A-Cop,” to benefit Special Olympics.
Local Special Olympic athletes were paired with an officer and a wait staff member as they greeted and served customers with the goal of inspiring them to make a donation to Special Olympics.
Brian Mills, one of the athletes who competed at the Special Olympic World Games in Abu Dhabi this past March, bringing home the Silver Medal in basketball with his team, was busy helping to greet people at the door. He said that he was enjoying the event.
“Brian was just thrilled to come over here and he even brought his World Games Silver Medal,” noted his father Michael Mills.
“It’s the first time I believe that a ‘Tip-A-Cop’ event has been in Shrewsbury and we are really excited about that. It’s another great community connection between the athletes and law enforcement and it’s a nice opportunity for them to work together side by side,” remarked the team’s coach, Bill O’Brien.
“I think it’s a great event and there are a lot of people coming out to show their support,” noted Shrewsbury Patrolman Shawn Valliere.
The restaurant’s manager Ryan Sabourin said the event was “fantastic.”
“The fact that we have local Special Olympic athletes coming to the store with police officers from the town of Shrewsbury to talk about a cause that is near and dear to all of them… it’s a beautiful program that they have and the one on one contact that the athletes can have with the tables who are donating the money is above and beyond,” he added.
“The Tip-A-Cop event took place at six locations of the Tavern in the Square restaurants across central and eastern Massachusetts. It is sponsored by the Law Enforcement Torch Run which is an organization of law enforcement officers whose purpose is to raise funds for Special Olympics,” explained Catherine Twing, digital and event engagement coordinator with Special Olympics Massachusetts.
“We raised $2,676 at the Tip-A-Cop in Shrewsbury and among all six Tavern in the Square locations we raised $11,415 for the athletes of Special Olympics Massachusetts,” she shared after the event.
For more information, visit: https://www.specialolympicsma.org/what-we-do/community-building-fundraising/law-enforcement-torch-run-program
Photos/Melanie Petrucci