Christmas in July
Our members, Joan Hurd, Paulette Dickerson, Nicole Berg & Sue Lester joined the volunteers for this huge event. Marylyn Berg, Carolyn Castaneda were helpful and we sure appreciated them all day. We hope to see Carolyn at a future.

Above is a photo of the Florida Sports Park hall filled with shinny bikes to be moved outside for Saturday, July 29th. Tables were set up for this special group of children and their families to eat hot dogs and hamburgers from Lucky’s Market, ice cream from Kilwin’s, juices, chips, popcorn, even Christmas cookies, and much more. Along the walls were tables filled with clothes, socks, shoes, hygiene packets, backpacks and school supplies all for the children. Santa Clause was there too. This event was coordinated by 9 Kiwanis Clubs working with dozens of organizations and businesses. After each child selected a bike, it was adjusted for the handle bars and seat to be just right and then they checked the air pressure in the tires. The Bikes for Tykes team provided hundreds of bikes and moved them to the park for this event. They worked so patiently with each child to be sure the bike was just right for that child.

For those who did not have a way to take the bike, it will be delivered. From the bikes the kids moved on to get a helmet from the a Pilot Club of Naples.

Pictured below is Jodi Walborn of Pathways who worked all day inspecting the helmet fit before each child left. She gave our helmet fitting team helpful hints and even gave Nicole and Marylyn Berg their instructions to be certified helmet fitters on the spot. Great teamwork!

Mary Ann Kaveski and Joy Augustine (below) of the Pilot Club of Fort Myers were a tremendous help with the long line of children standing in the heat. We needed the help and they answered the call. It is wonderful to see our two clubs working together.