Sumter Evening Optimist Club wants to give 300 bikes to kids this season
Public encouraged to donate, volunteer with Cycles for Christmas
The Evening Optimist Club of Sumter intends to keep tradition in its 21st year of Cycles for Christmas by giving away hundreds of bikes to local children once again.
Since 1997, more than 3,500 children have taken bicycles and tricycles home for Christmas.
About 300 bikes were given away last year, so the goal is to do that again this year, said Tom Lawrence, a member of the club.
All of the bikes are donated by the community, he said.
New and used bikes can be dropped off at any Sumter fire station for the giveaway.
Bikes are actually collected throughout the year, Lawrence said, so drop off old bikes whenever you can. "We'd love to have them."
Children selected for the giveaway - which will be held later this month - are nominated by teachers, guidance counselors and other Sumter School District officials. Only nominated children will be invited to the giveaway.
To prepare for the giveaway, Lawrence and other volunteers will repair and restore donated bikes for the next two Saturdays.
It costs about $20 to refurbish each bicycle to "like new" condition, he said.
If you do not have a bike to donate but would like to participate in another way, financial contributions can be made to the Evening Optimist Club of Sumter, c/o Cycles for Christmas, PO Box 2883, Sumter SC 29150.
For information on how to volunteer to help refurbish bikes, call the Evening Optimist Club at (803) 983-3916.