Local high school athletes have been and will continue to be in front of stores in Pella this week to raise funds for their classmates with special needs.
Pella Seniors Grace Held and Chloe Griffin volunteered their Monday evening to participate in the Knights of Columbus campaign for persons with intellectual disabilities.
While they are All-State soccer players on the field, both Held and Griffin tell KNIA/KRLS Sports they hope to make an even bigger impact for their friends in the special education program at Pella High.
“It really means a lot, because it always brightens my day to see Bella [Van Gorp] or Marcus [Goodyk] at school, and they’re really always with us,” Held says.
Griffin participated in the adaptive physical education class this past spring.
“Peer P.E. is a class with students with special needs and a peer, so you get paired up with a bunch of different kids and you have a bunch of fun playing a bunch of games,” she says. “It’s super fun and super encouraging–they’re all super joyful and loving.”

Athletes from Pella and Pella Christian have been collecting donations for the Pella and Pella Christian special education departments, Christian Opportunity Center, and the Iowa Special Olympics as part of the annual Knights of Columbus Team Challenge.
They, as well as the Knights of Columbus, will be in front of the Pella Hy-Vee, Walmart, and Fareway each evening this week and all day Saturday.