The Italy Police department and the Italy Masonic Lodge members teamed up to make some children very happy this summer.

The Italy Police department had several bikes in their storage just sitting there. Lt. Gray (Italy police officer) said, “We had several bikes in lost and found, or just abandoned bikes that we had in storage for a long time. They were just rotting away. We decided to put them to good use and give them to children who didn’t have a bike.”

Freddie Ivy (a Mason) explained, “Most of the bikes that the police had collected were in need of repair. So they gave the bikes to the Italy Masonic Lodge members to repair and distribute.”

He continued, “We got in touch with Stafford Elementary to see if they could help select who the bikes should go to and they really did help us, they gave us a list of students who would want a bike. We repaired them in the most inexpensive way possible but they all work and are ready to be ridden.”

Ivy gave the bikes to the students this week and there were lots a smiles.

Sam Glover is in the fourth grade and was one of the students chosen to receive a bike. Sam said, “I got a bike and I am really, really, happy because I didn’t have one.”

Cameron Higgs was another recipient and he said, “I am so happy and i think it is really cool that the police helped us get a bike.”

Gracie Upton also got a bike and said, “I am really happy, I have been waiting a long time for a bike.”

Anna Trejo was also a recipient of the repaired bikes and she said, “I feel good about getting this bike because my bike went to Mexico and then I didn’t have one. Now I will have a bike to ride.”