Kiara is her name, volunteering is her game
18-year-old Kiara Libal has a heart for volunteering, that doesn’t end in Highschool.
Kiara Libal is a freshman softball player at Morningside. From eighth grade all throughout high school, she was highly involved in volunteering to help out with the Special Olympics.
She attended Ashland-Greenwood Highschool where she started out by helping with unified flag football, basketball, and track and field. By her sophomore year, she became a chairman of the Special Olympics State Committee. As a chairman, she planned and volunteered at all Special Olympic events around Nebraska. At the state level, there were over 36 different sports.
Graduating high school did not put a holt to Libals involvement.
Kiara has participated in a Miracle League game. The Miracle League “removes the barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime.” She also helped plan the Halloween Boo Bash at the Miracle League field. She rounded up some of her peers and they had a dance party with the Miracle League teammates.
Libal first got involved with helping those with special disabilities when she moved to Ashland as an eighth-grader. “There was the first unified track meet at my school and I just decided why not volunteer!” She stated. She got paired with her buddy named Thad. Thad has Treacher Collins disease meaning he doesn’t have ears or cheekbones. He also has OCD, ADHD, Autism.
Jason Libal, Kiara’s father is overwhelmingly proud of her commitment given to volunteering. “It has been very rewarding witnessing her positive impact on those that may have not had the same opportunities as others.” He stated.
Although she is away at college, she still visits home to continue to volunteer at the unified events and say hello to her buddies. Often times she brings friends to tag along and participate. One friend, Maggie Fisher came along and loved the experience. She said “It was very cool to see her community give to an awesome opportunity and to see all the kids supporting the other kids. It really brought everyone together and having a good time.” Kiara loves to get others involved whenever possible.
“Seeing all the athletes come together and the joy that they experience through the games” is Kiara’s favorite part about volunteering.
Kiara also plans to volunteer at St. Lukes hospital, here in Sioux City while she is attending college.
