Badges and Buckets: Big Island police host annual fundraiser for Special Olympics

The Hawai‘i Police Department is again helping the athletes of Special Olympics Hawai‘i during the largest annual grassroots fundraiser for the organization.

Badges and Buckets, formerly known as Cop on Top, is in its 20th year. The three-day event features law enforcement officers spending their off-duty time perched atop a 10-foot scaffolding at the Hilo and Kona Walmart stores, eating, sleeping and raising awareness for Special Olympics Hawai‘i within the community.

This year the fundraiser took place Oct. 5-6 in Hilo and is planned for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 10-11 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 12 in Kona.

Donations collected during Badges and Buckets directly benefit Special Olympics Hawai‘i and its efforts to provide year-round sports programs for athletes, including opportunities to participate in regional and national competitions.

Through the years, the efforts of Big Island police have raised $250,000 to help provide sports training and competitions to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. A large part of the Special Olympics Hawai‘i’s annual budget is raised through this event alone.

For more information about the upcoming Kona event, contact Officer Joel Furuto at 808-326-4646, ext. 259, or via email at joel.furuto@hawaiicounty.gov.