Pedals under their feet, smiles on their faces
In 2003, Augie and Marie Black and family made a $5,000 donation to Operation St. Nick.
The reason? They wanted every boy and girl in Grundy County to experience the joy of having a new bike so they could ride to their neighborhood park to play ball or tennis, and enjoy the playgrounds.
"Augie, Marie and the entire Black family are smiling as summer is about to begin and 88 children will be able to ride in style with a new bike of their choosing, plus and helmet and lock, all given away this week," Joe Schmitz, president of Operation St. Nick, said Monday in the wake of the latest of what has become an annual donation by the Blacks.
"With the economy struggling and so many people laid off work, the need was the greatest we've every seen in our seven years of the bike program," noted Kathy Lambros, Operation St. Nick board member and coordinator of this year's bike program.
"When it was obvious we had more need than for the record 61 bikes we gave away in 2006, we contacted the Black family for direction on how they wanted us to proceed. They responded that they wanted all those children we deemed in need of a new bike to have one. Thus, we gave 88 bikes, helmets and locks to those whose applications showed the need was apparent."
"Augie and Marie's request has become one of our missions at Operation St. Nick," Schmitz said. "Through their generous donations over the past seven years, we have given 349 bikes to children in need for one reason or another."
Application forms were sent to all area grade schools, plus distributed at all eight Standard Bank locations in the Grundy County area. The parents were required to fill out the application form stating the reason their children needed new bikes, as well as providing information on the numbers of adults and children in the household and the gross monthly income, including child support, the family receives.
Each child also had to write an essay on what a new bike would mean to them.
A 13-year-old from Minooka wrote, "I would like to receive a new bike because my parents can't afford to purchase a new bike. Buying products like food are more important. I use to have a bike; it was 6 years old and I grew out of it. I miss having a bike because it was a great way to exercise and transportation. I missing going biking with my friends.
"We put our house up for sale when my father lost his job. We've only had one showing and no luck. My mom has a part-time job because that's all that's available. I wish I could have a bike again."
A South Wilmington 11-year-old wrote, "I want a new bike because I'd be able to ride around with my friends this summer. My mom has 4 kids and we all want a bike and she doesn't have the money for that.
"Instead of having to walk while I watch my friends having fun on their bikes, I would be so happy because I could join them and I could ride my bike to school. If I get a new bike, I would be so excited I wouldn't know where to go first."
A 13-year old from Morris wrote, "A new bike would be important to me because my old one's front tire is bent out of shape. Last August, when I was first learning how to ride a bike, I was hit by a car. I was riding down 47 and my brakes went out. When I tried to stop, a car turned and hit me. She then drove off.
"My mom has since tried to get me a new bike, but her boyfriend won't let her get me a new bike. I have to walk all the way across town to school. If I had a new bike, I could ride to school and I could have fun with my friends again."
A grandma in Coal City wrote about her granddaughter – "Her mom passed away a year ago and she lost her father a few months ago. I'm her grandma and she lives with me, but I do not make enough money to buy her a bike. She would enjoy having a bike to ride to her friend's house and to share with her younger sister."
An 8-year-old girl from Diamond wrote, "I live with my grandma. I would like a new bike to ride with my friends and family. I'm embarrassed of my bike we got at a garage sale. The handle bars are rusty and sticky. I have to wash my hands when I'm done riding. I've never owned a new bike. I would be very happy to have a new bike."
A 10-year-old boy from Morris wrote, "I would like a new bike because my brakes are broken, my wheel's flat, my chain keeps falling off and it's rusty. If I get a new bike, I would ride it all the time, do tricks on it and take good care of it. I have to ride my mom's old granny bike and I get made fun of. I would love a bike like my friends have."
"These six children and 82 more received their wish for a new bike," Lambros said. "I was overwhelmed with the excitement and happiness these kids had when they came in to pick out their own bike and helmet.
"Many parents walked away with tears in their eyes, but they were happy tears, and their children had big smiles on their faces. It was like Christmas all over again."
Operation St. Nick provides gifts, clothing and food at Christmas for 150 children and their families, plus clothing and school supplies for over 400 children at back-to-school time, as well as oversees the bike program.
Donations can be directed to Operation St. Nick, P.O. Box 781, Morris, IL, 60450.
