Tears of Joy and Hope: The 2019 Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway!

12/21/2019

Well, we did it. It’s 5pm the evening of the 13th Annual Holiday Kids Bike Giveaway, the kids and the volunteers have gone (some celebrating at Lost Grove Brewing behind BBP), and the last light of the day is about to disappear. Right now it looks like about 552 kids received bicycles, another 73 are on their way to Duck Valley Indian Reservation, and that means we have about 75 remaining kids to track down and deliver bicycles to in the next 2 days. By Christmas day, we hope to have reached all 700 kids.

The problem with big numbers is that you sometimes miss the transformative impact, the life-changing story, of each individual. There are so many stories to share, but if you were down here on Saturday, my guess is that you have one particular moment that’s sticking with you the most. Here is mine. 

Kyree’s Bike 

"I would love a bike that my mama could help push me from behind. I am still learning and have a difficult time figuring out how to push the pedals."

Kyree is a 4 1/2 year old child with all the of the world's beauty beaming from his eyes and actions. He also has an intellectual disability and probably had a lot help drawing his dream bike picture and writing his story. Yesterday Kyree received his dream bike and filled our staff and volunteers’ eyes with tears and hearts with pure joy.

This moment was a grounding reminder that as much as I love bicycles, what I love even more are the opportunities our bicycles create. Not just for these kids, but for their families, and for our community as a whole.

Kyree will likely never be able to drive a car. He and his family will face many barriers that most of us won't. And independence will often be a struggle. But for everyone who met Kyree yesterday, you saw a vision of hope and door that just opened... for all of us.

Yesterday Kyree got a literal and symbolic "push from behind." It took us awhile to build this custom bike to fit his needs, but our staff and volunteers handled the situation like it was their own child. Soon the push bar was attached and Kyree's Grandfather was there to assist, but Kyree was also beginning to "push the pedals" on his own.

Today and tomorrow, Kyree will still need that push, and our job, as a community, is offer that support and keep the door open. If we do, I guarantee this kid will soon be pedaling on his own, he will gain more and more independence everyday, and he will make our community a better, brighter, and more connected place for all of us. 

That’s just one story from Saturday. There are 699 more stories to share that are just as important and impactful from this year’s Giveaway alone. 7,132 total (bikes donated to kids) since 2007… and all we can say is THANK YOU!

Thank you for making the impossible possible once again. Thank you for investing in these incredible children. Thank you to all of the volunteers who gave tirelessly and then gave some more. Thank you to all of the nonprofits and teachers who referred all of these kids to us and for the empowering work you do for these kids everyday.

Finally, I want to say thank you to the parents and guardians of all of these kids. Thank you for allowing us to work with you to make these dreams come true. We feel so lucky and thankful for meeting each an every one of your incredible kids!