Church gives 160 bikes to kids

BY BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Sunday, December 20, 2009
12/20/09 at 4:36 AM

BIXBY — The parking lot Saturday had more than 160 children's bicycles: blue ones, black ones, red ones and yellow ones.

But 3-year-old Emma Brackett had her eyes on a bright pink bike with training wheels that was decorated with Disney princesses.

The girl got her Christmas wish at Bixby Community Church's first Bicycle Blessing Giveaway.

Minutes after hearing her name called, Emma was fitted for a safety helmet and started riding around in circles, ringing the bell on the bike's handlebars.

"This certainly makes the holidays a little brighter," said her mother, Amy Brackett, who had tears in her eyes. "It's been a really tough year for us, but we're going to make it."

Amy Brackett and her husband, Charlie, had a baby who died last summer, and the family has struggled with funeral-related expenses.

"All my little girl wanted for Christmas was that Princess bicycle, and we are so blessed that she could get it," Charlie Brackett said. "It makes you feel good that there are people who do things like this."

The giveaway was organized and funded by the nondenominational church, which was founded in 2007 and has about 100 members.

The church has outgrown its location at 150th Street and Sheridan Road and is relocating to 128th and Memorial Drive, where Saturday's event was held.

Senior Pastor Steve Greene said the church wanted to do something to make children happy at Christmas and located families in need through local charitable organizations.

"In this economy, there's a lot of people who are in a bad place right now," he said. "Many have lost their jobs and are having trouble making ends meet. But we don't want any child to go without."

The church decided to hand out bicycles because "that's the Christmas gift children always remember," Greene said. "Toys are played with for a few months and forgotten, but bicycles last, especially in the mind."

He said he hoped the giveaway will grow over the years to more than 1,000 bicycles.

Angela Smith brought her son, Matthew, 8, to the event, but she told him that it was a drawing and that it wasn't guaranteed he would get a bicycle.

"It's going to make him even more excited when they call his name," she said. "He had a bike a long time ago, but he outgrew it and has always wanted another."

Smith said she has been out of work since October and that her husband's paycheck is eaten up by bills.

"If it hadn't been for this, Matthew was going to get a new pillow for his bed," she said. "There's not much extra this year."

Izaya Curtis, 5, excitedly jumped on his new bike and raced around the parking lot, popping wheelies every few minutes.

Watching all of the activity, the church's youth pastor, Paul Ross, said: "This is what it's about. Seeing all of these smiles."

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Izaya Curtis, 5, has his bicycle helmet fitted by Robbin Jones of Tom's Bicycles during the Bixby Community Church's Bicycle Blessing Giveaway in Bixby on Saturday. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

Emma Brackett, 3, rides her new bicycle as her father, Charles Brackett, cheers her on during the Bixby Community Church's Bicycle Blessing Giveaway in Bixby on Saturday. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

Anita Perkins, 5, rides her new bike during the giveaway Saturday. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World

Izaya Curtis, 5, rides his new bike from Bixby Community Church. CORY YOUNG / Tulsa World