HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – December 16, 2017 – The Hollister Police Department hosted a Turning Wheels for Kids Bike Giveaway at the Hollister Police Department.
TurningWheels for Kids is a nonprofit charity dedicated to providing a new bike to children. TurningWheels For Kids raises money through donations all year around to purchase bicycles for Children at Christmas. On December 2nd, several Hollister Police personnel and Police Explorers attended the Turning Wheels for Kids bike building event in San Jose, CA. During that event, over 2,500 bicycles were put together by about 1000 volunteers. TurningWheels For Kids provided 80 bicycles to the Hollister Police Department for our community.
The Hollister Police Department reached out to teachers from the Hollister Schools to nominate kids who they believe would benefit from a new bike this Christmas. All of their names were entered and those that were randomly selected by raffle were notified to come to the Police Department to pick up their bicycle. Community Services Officer Alex Oropeza, School Resource Officers, Carlos Rodriguez and Theresa Aguilera, CSO Patrick Kennedy, PSO Anietra Gomez, Explorer Coordinator Officer Staci Esqueda and all the Hollister Police Explorers helped giveaway the bikes.
Members of the Safe Kids Partnership assisted in this year’s giveaway. They provided safety lights for each bicycle and helped fit each child with an appropriate helmet. The goal of the Safe Kids Partners is to prevent unintentional childhood injuries through the collaborative efforts of community agencies to provide education and public awareness of the leading causes of injuries. Such agencies include the San Benito County Public Health Department, Council of San Benito County Governments, City of Hollister Recreation, County of San Benito Health & Human Services Agency, CHP, First Five San Benito County, Off the Chain Bikes, City of Hollister Fire Department, City of Hollister Police Department and the Youth Alliance.
Thanks to everyone that made this event a success and we look forward to next year’s event.
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Approved by: Captain Carlos Reynoso
