The 29th annual Consolidated Communications Special Olympics Family Festival is a day of friendship for many Special Olympians.

This festival connects an Olympian with a volunteer who is their friend throughout the period of the day.

The festival will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Lake Land College in Mattoon.

Kathlene Shank, the special education department chair, said the program is about 200 volunteers short of matching the almost 700 Olympians who need friends.

Shank said they actually need more than 700 volunteers all together because some Olympians have mobility problems and need more than just one person’s assistance.

She said this is the first year having problems getting enough volunteers.

“Eastern students are wonderful and volunteers come from all over the university,” Shank said.

Shank said they have had groups from campus volunteer before, but have not had as many this semester.

Shank said people do not have to be special education majors to participate in the event.

She said many people from Lake Land College, the community and local high schools volunteer for the event as well.

“Everybody that goes comes back and says how much fun they had and how good it makes them feel to spend that day that way,” Shank said.

Volunteers will sign in at a booth and show a photo ID to participate.

The friend assignments will not be given out until that day and be based on who attends and needs the most help.

She said there is also the issue of people not showing up, despite signing up.

“If each and every person that filled out a form shows up, we’d still be in trouble right now,” Shank said

The festival is closed for to the public, so only volunteers and Olympians are allowed in.

Shank said friends will walk around with their Olympian to the different activities available at the festival. Friends do not have to worry about bathroom needs and there will be staff there if they need help.

The festival activities range from rides, face painting, photo booths, karaoke and even an Elvis impersonator.

There are no rules for the day except no smoking or cell phones, and volunteers have to stay until 3 p.m.

Shank said if students need a ride, they will have carpools at 7:45 a.m. Saturday in the Buzzard parking lot.

“We really need everyone to feel he tug of their heart and say ‘alright, I’m going over there Saturday morning’ and come,” Shank said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].