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Sam Penrod reportingHundreds of special needs children in Utah County got the thrill of a lifetime today. They got to go fishing!
The Fishing Day started as a small effort several years ago. Now, it requires hundreds of volunteers.
For the one thousand children who are fishing at Salem Pond, today ranks right up there with Christmas, something they look forward to all year long.
Scott Root, Division of Wildlife Resources: "IT GETS KIDS OUT HERE FISHING, IT GETS THEM TO DRAG THEIR PARENTS OUT AND I THINK IT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY."
The Division of Wildlife Resources stocks the pond with fish, so there's enough for everyone to reel one in. And after reeling in a fish, these kids can show off their fish, and more importantly, have a sense of accomplishment. But it takes hundreds of volunteers to help the kids fish. Mark Taggart brought his two sons, Ryan and Anthony from Riverton to help out.
"Mark Taggart, Volunteer: "I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE BOYS TO COME AND VOLUNTEER AND HELP SOMEBODY A LITTLE LESS FORTUNATE THAN THEY ARE, WE JUST COME BECAUSE WE LOVE THE KIDS."
Other volunteers find they are helping the participants do something many of them have never done before, catch a fish and put a smile on their face.
Shawn Sondrup, Volunteer: "SOME OF THEM, THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME FISHING, IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR THEM TO BE OUT HERE WITH OTHER KIDS."
And it doesn't matter if the fish are small, or the story about the one that got away becomes very big. Today is really about making memories.
Several businesses are also involved in donating food or financial support for the Fishing day.
