A group of kids are bicycling in style after giving their time to better the community.
Thirty-five children, ages 9-14 from Sudbury, were awarded their very own, brand new mountain bike, complete with helmet, bell and lock for their participation in the Tim Hortons Earn a Bike program.
“We have these young people in our community who maybe don't have bikes or don't have the means of getting one at the moment,” said Const. Robert Brunette, Earn A Bike co-ordinator at the Greater Sudbury Police Service.
“So we get the bikes through sponsorship with Tim Hortons and all they (the kids) have to do is put in 30 hours of working in the community.”
The work included cleaning up parks, streets and parking lots, helping out at public libraries or local schools with the janitor, visiting seniors homes and reading to residents, planting trees and even walking the neighbour's dog.
“Once their 30 hours are complete, they are rewarded with a brand new bike, which the local Tim Hortons store owners provide,” Brunette said. “It's a win-win situation all around.”
The officer has been involved with the program for the past eight years, but admitted seeing the looks on the kids faces when they receive the new bike never gets old.
“I get thanked because we do something nice for them,” he said. “But the reward is actually seeing the kids' faces because it means so much to them. It's a great feeling.”
The children are selected to participate in the Earn A Bike program through local agencies such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters, N'Swakamok Native Friendship Centre, local schools, Women's Sharing ADHOC Committee, Child and Family Services and the Greater Sudbury Police Service.
“The Earn a Bike program is a great way to teach kids about teamwork and the value of working toward something,” said Tim Hortons store owner Sandra Fielding, in a press release.
“We are so proud to sponsor this program and I would like to congratulate all of the kids on their hard work and dedication. They should all feel proud to know that the bikes and helmets they are receiving are so well-deserved.”
The Earn A Bike program was initiated by the Hamilton-Wentworth Police Service in 1996, and two years later Tim Hortons became the title sponsor. This year, 475 kids will participate in the Earn A Bike program across 70 regions in Ontario.
