A good hug sends a powerful message.

At least that's what the Young Women of the Port Townsend Ward, Silverdale Washington Stake, discovered this past spring and summer as they spent time coaching Special Olympians."It all started when the Special Olympics director asked my mother if she knew anyone who could help with the basketball team," explained Shawna-Kay Smith, now a freshman at Ricks College. "She thought of our Port Townsend Ward team and passed the word on to us."

Soon the girls were playing with the Special Olympic team, the Warriors, at their own practices, said Karie Grove, also a freshman at Ricks.

"As we played we taught them everything we could," she said. "Though they are adults and older than we are, they played with the same excitement as young people. We loved it."

After the basketball season, the girls' enthusiasm spread to coaching bowling, weight lifting and track. And many of the Young Women will continue to coach the teams again this season.

"I learned that I can have a lot of fun with any person no matter what their situation or condition, and that there is always love to be shared no matter what level you are at," Karie said.

Working with people with disabilities was so rewarding that Karie, Shawna-Kay and a group of interested students at Ricks are looking to start a similar coaching program at the college.

"It has taught me how much I can help other people and how service benefits them," she said. "I enjoyed it so much I would do it anytime."

Stacie Greenhalgh, a Laurel in the Port Townsend Ward, said, "There was a lot of one-on-one training; really we all were coaches, and the team members improved and had a lot of fun."

Karie added, "Whenever they made a shot or performed well, it made us feel so good. They can do a lot more than people give them credit for."

Rick Smith, the director of the Special Olympics in Jefferson County - which includes the Port Townsend area - said, "The team couldn't have done it without the Mormon Church members. The girls were at every practice."

And when the tournament started, the six coaches became a cheering section for the Warriors.

"We loved it," said Shyla Magnuson, now attending Olympic College in Bremerton, Wash. "It is great to help and be there with them."

All the young women agreed that the hugs and appreciation they shared with the Special Olympians made it all worthwhile.