CARTHAGE – An independent Special Olympics team for adults is hosting a public supper at 5 p.m. April 6 at the Carthage Town Hall to raise money for team uniforms and jackets.

According to Melody Hoover, head coach of Team Opportunities, their team is different from others around the state because the players do not attend any mental health facilities.

“We’re an independent team, separate from teams with participants from facilities,” Hoover explained. “The people on our team do not come from any specific facility. We’re also one of the few Special Olympic teams that are cross-county. There’s people from South Paris, Dixfield, Rumford and some from Franklin County.”

Because the team is not affiliated with a facility, Hoover said they have to raise money for expenses.

“Last year, when we went to the Winter Games, everyone else had their own uniforms,” Hoover said. “We had T-shirts to wear, but the team said they wanted uniforms and jackets to wear.”

The team has 12 players, ranging in age from 24 to 56. With the prices for team jackets hovering around $34, it can get expensive.

“We’ve been a team for five years now, and we started with a $0 balance,” Hoover said. “We’ve been able to raise money for the team by hosting cookouts, running booths at the Farmington Fair and the Dixfield Flea Market, doing different bake sales, but the jackets and uniforms aren’t cheap, and it’s $80 a head to get into the Winter and Summer games, including chaperons. By the time you’re done, it’s well over $1,000.”

Hoover said this will be the first time they host a public supper fundraiser.

“We try to mix it up and keep it fresh,” she said. “We don’t want to do the same bake sale over and over again, so we figured a public supper would be fun to try.”

The supper will give her team an opportunity to interact with the public, she said.

“The first time we did these fundraisers, the team would hide behind me and didn’t interact as much,” she said, “but now, they’re out and about, counting change and talking with people. This gives them a chance to grow and learn something.”

The menu will include beans, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, cole slaw, biscuits and homemade pies. There will also be a Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle, with prizes being donated by residents, family members and different businesses. The supper will last until there is no more food.

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