Mark Owens can do lots of things.

Photo by GILLIS BENEDICT/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

At 45, the Brighton resident lives on his own. He has held a steady job at Meijer for more than half his life, and he has a passion for cooking and board games.

For all Owens can do, some activities, like socializing and maintaining friendships, are extraordinarily difficult for him because he is mentally challenged.

But you’ll still see Owens in cooking classes, rolling strikes in his bowling league and hoping for holes-in-one at any of several local miniature golf courses, all the while making friends, developing communication skills and thoroughly enjoying himself.

None of this, though, would be possible were it not for Special Ministries of Livingston County, a local nonprofit program for people of all ages with mental and physical disabilities.

Owens participates in weekly interactive sports, activities and social events through Special Ministries, along with around 250 other handicapped individuals in Livingston County. With the Livingston Essential Transportation Service program on board, Special Ministries provides transportation for its clients, too.

“I don’t know what we would do without Special Ministries,” said Nancy Hall, Owens’ legal guardian.

She and her husband, Bob, have looked after Owens since his adopted mother — Hall’s sister — died. They assist him with things like grocery shopping.

“One of the issues with a lot of people who have disabilities is socialization, and that’s important for us, because it isn’t easy for Mark to make friends — he has acquaintances through work, but it’s tough for him,” Nancy Hall said.

For more than 10 years, Owens has participated almost weekly in Special Ministries events. Sometimes, Hall said, Owens even assumes a leadership role during Special Ministries’ game nights, teaching others how to play and even playing along with them when they forget or neglect the rules.

“It was the first time I saw that side of him, and I’m thankful,” Hall said. “I can’t thank (Special Ministries of Livingston County) enough for all they do. As guardians, it’s helped us a lot, too.”

The United Way-supported program will host the first of what it hopes will become its signature fundraiser Oct. 24. The event, called A Taste of Michigan, will be hosted at The Opera House, 123. W. Grand River Ave. in Howell, will run from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and celebrate the group’s 40 years of service in the community.

The fundraiser includes a catered dinner, wine and beer tasting, a silent auction, a 50-50 drawing and entertainment with Kitty Donohoe.

Tickets cost $45 at the door or $40 in advance at www.special-ministries.org or by phone at (810) 229-6661.

“As an organization, we log hundreds of volunteers and thousands of volunteer hours per year, and our advisory committee decided we should do a signature fundraiser we could have every year,” said Diane Mosey, executive director of Special Ministries.

Special Ministries is based out of St. George Lutheran Church in Brighton.

“We very much want to get the community involved,” Mosey said. “Our mission is to provide programs and opportunities for the whole person. We’d like to see the whole community get involved.”

Special Ministries hosts and organizes numerous events for the disabled, including miniature golf outings, bingo and classes in computers, arts and crafts, cooking and numerous other areas.

There is no age limit, and Sherry Burns, 65, is glad about that.

As a result of mistakes made during her birth, Burns was left with little hearing, cerebral palsy and an IQ in the 70s, according to her proud older sister, Sandy Dubisky.

Burns recently moved to Howell after living in Brighton for 27 years, and though she lives on her own, prepares her own meals and loves spending time with her big white cat named Beaver, she continues to participate heavily in Special Ministries activities.

“She’s so happy to be out with other people,” Dubisky said about her sister. “Special Ministries activities are her own activities, and she’s able to have her own friends on her own time, and that’s important to her independence. It’s a really important program and they deserve all the positive attention they can get.”

For more information on Special Ministries of Livingston County or its fundraiser, visit www.special-ministries.org or call (810) 229-6661.

Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Frank Konkel at (517) 552-2835 or at fkonkel@gannett.com