The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office gave bicycles to local families in need on a recent Friday evening, just in time for the holiday season.
A San Jose-based nonprofit organization called “Turning Wheels for Kids” donated 35 bicycles to the office after the sheriff applied for a grant with the program.
The organization, started in 2005, encourages physical activity in kids and has given away more than 13,000 bikes to low-income families.
The event, in its third year in the county, asked employees from the sheriff’s office to identify and sponsor a family or child in need. The office gave away the bikes Dec. 20.
“We ask our employees to go out and find children in the community that would benefit from having a bicycle based on their criteria if they were a family in need of a bike or in need of exercise,” said Sheriff Darren Thompson.
He said the goal was the help spread a little Christmas cheer and give back to the community.
“We were really surprised,” said Rhonda Benavidez, the mother of Sabino Benavidez, who received a brand-new Tony Hawk bike.
In addition to the bicycles, for some children, as young as age 3 and up to teenage years, each came with a must-have for safety: helmets.
“You got to keep the brain in the box!” said Thompson.
He said he never received new bikes growing up himself.
“I got used ones growing up,” he said.
Lisa Ponce, the multiservice officer for the sheriff’s office, organized the event.
“At a time like this, it’s great. To see their faces … They’re excited for the holidays,” she said. “We love it.”
