Community Corner

Special Needs Skating Program Seeks Donations for Equipment, Ice Time

The donations will provide funds for ice time and equipment.

A program for special needs children that allows them to learn to skate is seeking help from local donors, according to a post on GoFundMe.com.

The Special Needs Skating Program, called United We SK8, is held at the new Blackstone Valley Ice Arena in Hopedale. The program was created by Cristina Goncalves Yakimowsky, who in her post on GoFundMe said she advertised for five days, and got interest from 44 children.

She's already found a generous donor who contributed enough to cover the children through the United Skating Academy for insurance purposes. And her online donation account has already raised $6,000 of the $8,260 needed for all of the children's equipment needs.

"I really want to continue to make this happen, but need help paying for ice time and skating aids for the children on the ice. If you log on to www.blackstonevalleyice.com you will see the program listed as UNITED WE SK8," she wrote. "I have so many more children that want to join, and would love to be able to open up additional ice time so I would not have to turn anyone away. It would be great to have this program be at NO cost to the parents."


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