Angels at work

A key to some political and social philosophies popular in these parts is the belief that private industry and private people can do a much better job of helping out needy folks than government, and I suppose that in some ways they are correct.

The people in our communities certainly have a track record of proving their presence when bad things happen, from the quick responses given when a house burns or illness creates fiscal needs that can’t be addressed by the doctors. Poker runs, lunches and suppers, even crawfish boils pop up all over the place when folks find out someone needs help.

Maybe that’s one of the reasons why we find it difficult to see the need for safety nets, because here in the Bayou Region many of these are securely in place, and if they are not someone tends to stitch and stress them.

There are other needs as well, not so much dictated by emergencies but by ongoing circumstance. And while we can’t as individuals address all of these – for one thing we don’t individually even know of so many – there are individuals among us who have over time done good works that spread the goodness around in wonderful ways.

Until 1999 one of these angels among was James Aitkens Sr., and there are people reading this right now who are too young to know the importance of that name in our community. So bear with me as I explain.

A U.S. Army veteran, James worked as a tire repairman for the Patterson Truck line in Houma for 38 years, all the while making time for good works at New Rising Sun Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, and other community activities. James knew that there was a lot of poverty in Houma, and decided that more needed to be done.

And so after his retirement James Aitkens started collecting and repairing bicycles. A bicycle can be a life-changer for a child, and James knew this. He also knew that there were a lot of kids for whose families a bicycle was a luxury that could be ill-afforded, and this is why he began giving the bicycles away.

The giving got serious, so serious that James ended up using a warehouse on Naquin Street to store the bikes and other items bound for Houma neighborhoods. He began to dress as Santa Claus, and with the help of the Houma Fire Department his annual appearances as the jolly old elf brought smiles and laughter, and of course there were the gifts, enhanced by not just his efforts but so many people who volunteered them so that the joy could be spread.

Jahyri Coleman, grandson of James, began a reprise of the one-man program a few years back, along with other family members and some of the volunteers from the original giveaways.

Out of that grew the James Aitkens Save A Life Foundation, a registered charity. The foundation has helped nearly 2,000 people, and not just at Christmas time. Last year a Christmas gift-giveaway benefitted more than 300, and this year they are hoping to reach 500 people.

This is going to happen Dec. 17 at the St. Lucy’s Catholic Church gymnasium at 1220 Aycock Street. Bring a bicycle. Bring some kind of gift. Bring cash if you don’t have time to shop. And as James Aitkens’ family will tell you, no amount is too small.

Save A Life may sound dramatic name to some people, after all we are talking about Christmas gifts here, not money for surgery. But James Aitkens knew and his family still maintains that the knowledge of the good, and receipt of such gifts, can make a profound difference in the way a life is lived, in the ability to believe there is goodness, and therefore the inspiration to take life to its fullest potential rather than allow it to waste. Saving the spirit, through infusion of the spirit of giving, is in itself saving a life. If you want to know more call Jahyri at 647-2278 or Dianne Nixon at 709-1608. They’ll be happy to discuss how you can help. And they’ll be happy as well to talk about how the angel who started it all, James T. Aitkens St., is still running the show from a much better vantage point.

Angels at work