Nearly 1,500 children and adults with special needs spent a day in the sunshine recently, casting lines and catching fish during the 35th annual Kids Fishing Day at Salem Pond. The event wouldn’t be possible without the community effort behind it, including the team from Macey’s Spanish Fork.
Kids with Disabilities Adventures is a Utah-based nonprofit organization focused on providing opportunities for children with special needs to explore and grow in nature. Kids Fishing Day, founded by brothers Mike and Kevin Pritchett, is a much-anticipated annual tradition in the community, bringing outdoor adventure and a sense of accomplishment to hundreds of children with disabilities.
The event has grown since its first year in 1990 when only 15 kids participated, to now hosting almost 1,500 kids from Utah County.
To help fuel the fun, Macey’s prepared 1,200 box lunches for the participants. After feedback from past years, the team put together a lunch that all the kids could enjoy. Each lunch included a sandwich and fruit snacks donated by Macey’s, chips and cookies donated by Frito Lay and Little Debbie and a fruit sauce squeeze donated by the wife of the founder of the event.
“This event has always been so near and dear to my heart, always making sure that every kid feels included. It brings me so much joy in knowing how much Macey’s cares and is willing to go the extra mile,” said Jessica Atchison assistant store director at Macey’s Spanish Fork. “Being able to be on the other side and see my team come together for the greater good is a reminder of how generous and willing Macey’s has been and will continue to be. This is just one more reason as to why I am always proud to tell everyone that I work at Macey’s.”
Macey’s has been the official lunch sponsor of the event for about the past six years, continuing a tradition started by Fresh Market.