The skies were slate gray, the temperature was below freezing and one could even see a little snow blowing around an old warehouse at the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Saturday morning, but even that couldn’t put a damper on the enthusiasm of children as they picked their favorite bike out of the more than 100 provided by the Aberdeen Lions Club at their annual Bicycles from Heaven event.
One little girl beamed on her new wheels, a shiny little number complete with Seahawks colors and logos. Others seemed a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of bikes, but all eventually left with the one they liked the best. The pink bikes were particularly popular among the girls, but some definitely preferred purple. All, from trikes to full-size bikes, looked practically brand new after being overhauled by inmates at Stafford Creek Corrections Center.
Once a bike is selected, Lions Club members make sure the tires are properly inflated, adjust the seat for the perfect fit, and the child is the proud owner of a bicycle, something due to circumstances beyond their control might never have been possible without Bicycles from Heaven.
The kids are preselected, filling out applications primarily at the Aberdeen Salvation Army but also singled out by schools and the Christmas for Kids program. The bicycles are collected throughout the year and, when there are enough of them, Lions Club volunteers haul them to Stafford Creek; there the inmates clean them up, make sure they’re working and give them a fresh coat of paint before they’re sent out to brighten some child’s holiday.
Gene Schermer from the Lions Club mingled among the tangle of bikes and youngsters. He wanted to make sure the Historical Seaport was thanked for providing the warehouse for storage and the giveaway, and also gave props to the Salvation Army, such a large part of the annual program. Another 100 or so bicycles will be donated to local kids Thursday. The project shows no signs of slowing down any time soon; Schermer pointed to a pile of bicycles in one area of the warehouse, well over 100 of them, saying they would soon be on their way to Stafford Creek for a makeover and eventually a new home with an area child.
Once a child has selected a bicycle out of the 100-plus at the Bicycles from Heaven event, it is wheeled out to Lions Club volunteers who make sure the tires are properly inflated and adjust the seat for the optimum ride. Manning the air compressor at center is Bob Braden, standing to his left is Scott Berkin. DAN HAMMOCK THE DAILY WORLD
Once a child has selected a bicycle out of the 100-plus at the Bicycles from Heaven event, it is wheeled out to Lions Club volunteers who make sure the tires are properly inflated and adjust the seat for the optimum ride. Manning the air compressor at center is Bob Braden, standing to his left is Scott Berkin. DAN HAMMOCK THE DAILY WORLD
Lions Club volunteers mill among the more than 100 bicycles given away Saturday as part of their Bicycles from Heaven program. Al Waters, in the Lion’s Club hat at center, called said of the event, “We get to give a bike, the kids get to get a bike, the prisoners get to be part of it, it’s a great program.” In the red coat behind in the post is Bob Braden. Standing to Waters’ left with his back to the camera is Dennis Harke. DAN HAMMOCK THE DAILY WORLD
Lions Club volunteers mill among the more than 100 bicycles given away Saturday as part of their Bicycles from Heaven program. Al Waters, in the Lion’s Club hat at center, called said of the event, “We get to give a bike, the kids get to get a bike, the prisoners get to be part of it, it’s a great program.” In the red coat behind in the post is Bob Braden. Standing to Waters’ left with his back to the camera is Dennis Harke. DAN HAMMOCK THE DAILY WORLD
