'Tis the season to give away bicycles

A bicycle is just about the best gift any kid can get at Christmas. Groups across the country are busy sponsoring bicycle drives and giveaways this season. Here's a representative sample of some programs:

California

The Butte County Sheriff's office is giving away about 50 new and used bicycles to children who were identified by the local Salvation Army. This is the seventh year for the bicycle giveaway. Some bikes were repaired by the Sheriff's Team of Active Retired Seniors. See “Christmas bikes come from Santa's Sheriffs.”

Illinois

In Glen Carbon, Boy Scout is organizing a repair session for 50 bikes that will be distributed to children this month. Tyler Nahlik is seeking volunteers to help with the job. He got the bikes from the Glen Carbon police department. See “Bicycle Project Moved” for details.

Louisiana

Inmates already have fixed up more than 100 bicycles for the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office to give away. The Bikes for Christmas program is 17 years old and repairs and redistributes used bicycles. See “Sheriff's office donates bikes needy kids.”

New York

The Carousel Center in Syracuse is accepting bike donations through Dec. 18. In its 11th year, the bike collection drive can accept and repair up to 1,000 bicycles. The giveaway is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Dec. 23 at Fowler High School. See “Bicycle collection rolls along” for details.

North Carolina

The Bicycle Post in Ahoskie is accepting old bicycles that will be refurbished by prison inmates and then given away. The Prison Bicycle Ministry also is seeking monetary donations. See “Bikes to benefit needy.”

Let's not forget Moses Mathis, the Bicycle Man of the Tiffany Pines Community Outreach Center. See The Bicycle Man website.

Ohio

The Bikes for Kids program is giving away 50 new bicycles and helmets to Butler County children at the Fairfield Pavilion. Of the recipients, 25 are foster children and 25 are Fairfield YMCA kids. Thirty local businesses and individuals donated money for the bikes. See “Santa on a truck at bicycle program”

Oregon

An anonymous donor in southern Oregon's Jackson County gave away some 200 new bicycles to schools and local social service offices this year. See “Bike Santa strikes again”.