MLHS Pals Club fundraiser supports special needs athletes

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake High School Pals Club held a Unified Booster fundraiser outside of Moses Lake’s Crumbl Cookie on Tuesday evening from 5-8 p.m. to raise money for Unified Basketball and Soccer for the 2025-26 school year. 

“This is just one of our fundraisers we did this year, it was our second Crumbl Cookie fundraiser,” said Sarah White, Mavs’ assistant coach for unified sports. 

The fundraiser garnered support from students and their families, along with the School Resource Officer Joaquin Espinoza. White said there were people who attended National Night Out on the third who came by to support unified sports. 

“It was nice to see people that went to National Night Out also made time to come say hi and support us as well,” she said. “That was very humbling and kind.” 

The fundraiser had bubbles and music playing as well as some pizza to feed those involved, said White. Those attending the fundraiser stood outside of the Crumbl Cookie and held signs promoting their cause. 

Earning funding for last year's and this year’s sports has been very important to ensure that unified sports continue in the same capacity that it has in the past. These fundraisers help cover the costs of running the program in whatever means necessary. 

“This year we didn’t have a bus, so we had to have tons of carpooling to get to different events and stuff, so (the fundraisers) helped with that,” said White.  

White said there has been increasing support and registration for unified sports over the last few years, with both basketball and soccer having large turnouts at their games last season. 

Along with this, she has also been building up other aspects of unified sports, such as purchasing zip-up jackets and gear that the players receive as a team. 

“I have a nephew that’s at the high school, so I always thought ‘oh my gosh, he’s on the football team and they have these fun cool things that they get as a team’, said White. “So, just keeping that momentum for unified, just the same.” 

The Mavs’ unified teams are preparing for the upcoming school year as well as their basketball season starting in December and the soccer season beginning in the Spring. She said recently the basketball games have been growing and having the cheerleaders and band present for the games and she hopes that soccer will also see the same growth. 

White said that this year will mark the end of their careers in unified sports with the Mavs as they graduate. This year will be emotional as these players were some who started during White’s first year as a coach on the team.  

She invites everyone to come and attend the unified games this coming season and support the athletes as they compete this year. 

“I joined Unified because it’s not about me, but every single player I work for, I want everyone to see what I see,” said White. “I love these athletes like my own; they bring so much to each game, and it’s more about the bigger picture. Our athletes are just like you and I. I dare anyone who’s reading this, if you haven’t been to a game yet, come check it out, you’ll walk away asking why you haven’t been to one before.” 

Future games will be shared on the Moses Lake School District website and on the Pals Club Facebook page. 

    Josline Dominguez-Gomez and Eric Ocampo stand on either side of SRO Joaquin Espinoza during the fundraiser. Assistant coach Sarah White said they received a lot of community support from those who attended National Night Out.
  

    Pals Para Sarah Batdorff, assistant coach Sarah White, former Pals helper Taryn Janke, Pals helper Carmen Flores, Khloe Sandmann, Pals teacher Brad Bellamy and Pals helper Lydemai Diaz hold up a sign outside of the Moses Lake Crumble Cookie to promote the fundraiser.
  

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