| from ABH: Masons give bikes for xmas | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Peter Norris (prnorris bellsouth.net)
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| Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:43:06 -0800 (PST) | |
By Benjamin Price | benjamin.price [at] onlineathens.com | Story
updated at 8:14 PM on Monday, December 24, 2007
When 3-year-old Kenaz Moses woke up Monday morning, all he could think about was getting a bike for Christmas.
Kenaz was one of about 40 children who got a bicycle for Christmas on Monday at the annual toy giveaway sponsored by Advanced Lodge 31, York Rite Masons and the Order of Eastern Star. About 75 people packed the parking lot of Claude DuBose's dentist office on Oak Street to draw names for the bikes and other toys donated to the lodge.
Kenaz's was one of the first numbers drawn, and he already was riding his bike around the parking lot before he finally was chased down by his grandmother, Gloria Moses.
"He was so excited he was up before I was this morning," Moses said. "He got what he wanted for Christmas."
The lodge has been taking donations for children's clothes and toys since November, leaving several drop-off boxes at local Subway restaurants and asking for donations of new and used bicycles, lodge member Randy Jarrell said.
Lodge members spent several days repairing the bikes and fixing them up before holding a drawing on Christmas Eve.
The lodge has sponsored the event for almost 10 years, and some parents arrived several hours early hoping to get a bike.
Michelle Matlock of West Broad Street was among several people who arrived early, hoping to get a bicycle for her 2-year-old daughter, Angel Marlow.
"She was really looking forward to this," Matlock said. "She wanted to sleep late this morning, but I told her, 'If you want to get a bike, you'll get up.' "
The lodge focuses on bicycles each Christmas because that gift is always a special present to a child - and it promotes exercise, Jarrell said.
"Everybody remembers their first bicycle," he said. "I can still remember riding mine around in the rain on Christmas morning. And, if it can get them to leave the TV alone for a while to go outside and ride a bike, then it will also make for a healthier kid."
Unfortunately, some children are inevitably left without a bike each year, Jarrell said, and donations were down about 10 percent this Christmas.
Anyone wanting to donate may call Golden Brown Sr. at (706) 614-8287 and the lodge will arrange to have the bicycle or toys picked up.
When 3-year-old Kenaz Moses woke up Monday morning, all he could think about was getting a bike for Christmas.
When he finally heard No. 3 called, he got his wish.
Kenaz was one of about 40 children who got a bicycle for Christmas on Monday at the annual toy giveaway sponsored by Advanced Lodge 31, York Rite Masons and the Order of Eastern Star. About 75 people packed the parking lot of Claude DuBose's dentist office on Oak Street to draw names for the bikes and other toys donated to the lodge.
Kenaz's was one of the first numbers drawn, and he already was riding his bike around the parking lot before he finally was chased down by his grandmother, Gloria Moses.
"He was so excited he was up before I was this morning," Moses said. "He got what he wanted for Christmas."
The lodge has been taking donations for children's clothes and toys since November, leaving several drop-off boxes at local Subway restaurants and asking for donations of new and used bicycles, lodge member Randy Jarrell said.
Lodge members spent several days repairing the bikes and fixing them up before holding a drawing on Christmas Eve.
The lodge has sponsored the event for almost 10 years, and some parents arrived several hours early hoping to get a bike.
Michelle Matlock of West Broad Street was among several people who arrived early, hoping to get a bicycle for her 2-year-old daughter, Angel Marlow.
"She was really looking forward to this," Matlock said. "She wanted to sleep late this morning, but I told her, 'If you want to get a bike, you'll get up.' "
The lodge focuses on bicycles each Christmas because that gift is always a special present to a child - and it promotes exercise, Jarrell said.
"Everybody remembers their first bicycle," he said. "I can still remember riding mine around in the rain on Christmas morning. And, if it can get them to leave the TV alone for a while to go outside and ride a bike, then it will also make for a healthier kid."
Unfortunately, some children are inevitably left without a bike each year, Jarrell said, and donations were down about 10 percent this Christmas.
The lodge still accepts donated bicycles and toys this week.
Anyone wanting to donate may call Golden Brown Sr. at (706) 614-8287 and the lodge will arrange to have the bicycle or toys picked up.
Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 122507 peter norris
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