LPSO gearing up for 20th-annual bike giveaway

Lafourche Parish sheriff’s deputies, with the help of the community, have distributed more than 3,000 bicycles at Christmas over the past 19 years.

“Owning a bicycle is somewhat of a ‘right of passage’ for a child,” Sheriff Craig Webre said in a release. “All of us who were fortunate to have a bike as a child have many fond memories, especially if you received one during the holidays. The goal of this program is to bring that same joy to those who might otherwise not receive a bicycle for Christmas.”

The giveaway program was launched in 1994. Since then, it was expanded to include the Grand Isle community as well.

Last year, deputies delivered 269 bikes to children in need.

Trustees are refurbishing donated, used bikes. Many of the donations require cleaning and minor repairs. The bikes will be distributed the week before Christmas.

“We are fortunate to live in such a generous community,” Webre said. “Our deputies look forward to this program each year, to see the smiles on the children’s faces, but this giveaway has become such a huge success thanks to the generous donations of bicycles and funding from the people of our community.”

The sheriff’s office is accepting names of children in need; however, because of the already high demand, family’s requests should be limited to one or two bicycles.

Call Capt. Dean Savoie at (985) 632-5843 to provide a child’s name, age, sex, address, phone number and other qualifying information.

Bicycle donations can be left at any LPSO location. Because the giveaway is fast approaching, the sheriff asks that new bicycles or only those in need of minor repair be donated. Monetary donations are also being accepted to buy new bikes. Checks should be payable to the Lafourche Deputies Association with the words “Bike Giveaway” in the memo line.

Lafourche deputies Glenn LeRay, Cody Naquin and Gene Richard deliver bicycles during 2012’s annual Christmas Bike Giveaway.

COURTESY PHOTO