David McAloney works on a tugboat for Crowley Maritime.

David McAloney describes himself as someone who lives by the principle of loving your neighbor as yourself.

It’s one reason why he loves being involved in the Clatsop County Special Olympics.

“Being around the Special Olympics allows me to see the love and family aspect that I think is sometimes missing in our community,” he said.

McAloney’s father, Steve, was in the U.S. Coast Guard and got deployed to Astoria in 1995. Like a lot of Coast Guard families, the McAloneys fell in love with the town and decided to make it their permanent home.

McAloney attended Astoria High School and graduated in 2007. He left the North Coast for a four-year stay in California, where he obtained his maritime degree from California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo. After he graduated college, he came back to Astoria, where he now works on a tugboat for Crowley Maritime.

McAloney said his interest in Special Olympics started with his brother, who has special needs. When the family arrived in Astoria, the local programming coordinator for Special Olympics had just stepped down and his dad was asked to help out.

“Before long, my dad became the programming coordinator,” McAloney said. “As a family, we’ve been involved with Special Olympics for 15 years and now me and my dad are the co-coordinators for Clatsop County.”

McAloney has worked to expand the program by reaching out to local high schools and spreading the word on Facebook.

“Most people don’t know that we exist, so we are always looking for ways to market ourselves and let the community know what we do,” he said. “We are a nonprofit that provides things for the athletes free of charge.”

McAloney has plans to work with high schools to get students out as volunteers. He feels a sense of duty to help the athletes succeed in sports and wants the youth in the community to feel good about making a difference.

Special Olympics has 15 sports spread through the fall, winter and spring seasons. The nonprofit plans to bring in bocce ball and cornhole next year.

When McAloney is not working on the tugboat or with Special Olympics, he enjoys woodworking, hiking, disc golf or anything that helps him stay active.

McAloney relishes seeing the people involved with Special Olympics grow as both athletes and people.

“It feels good to be a part of the community,” he said. “Seeing the progression and love these athletes share with one another is the most gratifying part.”