St. Clair Township’s local police lodge is partnering with the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCMRDD) to encourage unity and collaboration in the month of April, which is World Autism Month, concluding their efforts with their annual event Sunday at Beaver Local Schools track near state Route 7 and Bell School Road.

The event originally had been slated for April 30; however, the police union delayed it a week due to predictions of inclement weather.

However, Mother Nature was determined to rain on their parade one way or another. Despite some continuing threatened misting and chance of showers, the event went off mostly without a hitch although attendance did appear down.

Throughout the month April, which began off April 2 with the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day, St. Clair Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 210 did everything from selling commemorative event T-shirts and raffle tickets to benefit their autism awareness fund. Initially their first year, these funds funded the fun day at Beaver Local; however, this is the second year that the CCMRDD stepped in to cover the cost of the inflatables at the event, so all the T-shirt and drawing ticket proceeds could fund inclusivity efforts for the youth within Beaver Local School District.

Maddox Potts, the 6-year-old son of the autism event coordinator/St. Clair Township Police administrative assistant Herman Potts, puts his shoes on after exiting an extra-large bounce house. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diagnoses of children have increased over the past 25 years. However, they speculated that greater understanding and awareness seem to be largely driving the increase, according to a story published earlier this year in the journal Pediatrics by researchers from Rutgers University.

Events like the autism one at Beaver Local the track help with that.

Herman Potts, who is an administrative assistant for St. Clair Township police, coordinates the event for the lodge. So far, they have been able to raise more than $10,000 over its last two years.

Since raising that $4,000 in their inaugural year with the T-shirts and the chance auction for a fishing charter donated by Lake Tackle, Potts said they have added a Touch-a-Truck event and the collaboration with the CCMRDD, which has allowed them to expand their efforts. Through the event’s efforts, Beaver Local school personnel explained that they have been able to purchase materials for their classrooms that allow them to help students improve their life skills.

For example, the Beavers’ Director of Special Programs Bethann Rettos explained students on the autism spectrum aren’t the only ones to benefit from this FOP 210’s autism awareness fund.

“Sensory kits are donated districtwide to teachers,” she added, meaning all K-12 students ultimately benefit from the event.

Intervention specialists Katie Neville, elementary school; Samantha Smith, middle school; and Jodie Bock, high school, said they all have been able to use moneys to make upgrades to their classrooms.

FOP 210 President Anthony Savina, who is assigned by St. Clair Township as the school resource officer for the district, gets to see upclose and know that the hard work by his organization is making a difference.

County MRDD Executive Director Bill Devon is supportive of the effort, touting how it is a positive step for those on the autism spectrum and in the normalization of the syndrome within the community.

Sunday’s event included not only inflatables from Sunshine Party and Event Rentals but character appearances from Entertainment All-Stars, as well as a Touch-A-Truck area and air ambulance. The police lodge also was on hand with its T-shirts ($20 each) and fishing charter drawing tickets ($5 each or five for $20) for sale. Any remaining raffle tickets will be available for sale at Beaver Local schools, Four Seasons Mini Mart and Chef Ray’s Cafe until they run out. The drawing is projected to be on May 20, explained Potts. Food and concessions will be available on site for purchase.

Additional donations can be made to FOP 210 and mailed to St. Clair Township Police; 15442 Pugh Road Suite 1, East Liverpool, OH 43920. Make sure to write “autism awareness” on the memo line to make sure contributions are directed to the desired destination.