More than 100 third-grade students at Lincoln Elementary School walked the short distance from their classrooms to the Palomar Family YMCA on Wednesday to learn which of them had won the “What I Do for Community Service” essay contest they all had entered.
They filed into the Y’s Joe Crowder Gymnasium and filled in the metal stands facing the eight shiny red bikes and helmets lined up in a neat row that would be given to the winners as part of the Bikes for Kids Foundation.
The suspense was apparently almost unbearable as the kids sat on the edge of seats and wriggled their feet as a teacher from each of the four classes read aloud from two essays that “best exemplified the community spirit and good citizenship” they had been imparting on the students.
“I like to volunteer and help older people if they can’t reach something,” and “It makes my heart happy to let someone know how much you care about them,” and “I love coming home to the lights and the tree, but I know some kids don’t get to have Christmas and I want to give my old bike to someone who needs it,” were just a few of the heartfelt sentiments expressed.
As each winner realized it was his or her essay being read, the kids jumped up in delight and, one by one, to the cheers of their friends, took center stage and a place next to their new bike.
When they were all standing next to their bikes, Elisa Fregoso,emcee and Lincoln principal, recapped what the group had learned—- that “even if you don’t have a lot of money there are still ways to give.”
“But look how many I have here,” said Fregoso, as she held up a fat manila folder full of all the essays that had been written.”We’d really like to give a bike to every one of you.”
And so they did.
The curtain separating the back half of the gym slowly raised and more than 100 more shiny new bikes and helmets came into view.
Carmelo Hernandez and Adrian Flores, both 8 years old, hugged wildly upon hearing the news from the back row of the bleachers.
After the excitement died down Carmelo and Adrian explained that they “wouldn’t get to do anything but stay at home and watch TV without a bike,” but now they plan to explore and “have lots of fun” on their new bikes.
In fitting with the good citizenship theme of the day, the children shouted out thank you after thank you as the people who had raised the money, organized the giveaway and assembled the bikes were acknowledged. The maintenance workers who spent last Saturday morning putting the bikes and helmets together were even given an impromptu standing ovation by the kids.
The kids will take the bikes home Thursday, after their parents sign the appropriate waivers.
The nonprofit Bikes for Kids Foundation, founded by Bill and Debbie Pollakov of Poway in 2002, has spent the last eight years giving bikes to children identified by various organizations in the San Diego area. They coordinated with the Escondido Union School District to identify two recipient schools. Another elementary school will receive a similar surprise next week.
“We heard about this wonderful group of third-graders who are working so hard to learn English and go to college and do the right thing,” explained Debbie Pollakov to the group of kids. “So keep writing, it’s really important.”
Alfredo Velasco, executive director of the Palomar YMCA, said seeing the children go from “shocked to saying ‘Wow, this is really for us,’” was “absolutely overwhelming.”
“For a lot of these kids this is the first time they’ve ever received a new, expensive toy,” said Valasco. “But it’s not about the bikes, it’s about the spirit of giving that was taught here today.”
Escondido Union School District superintendent Jennifer Walters asked the children if one day, long after they graduated college and were scientists or teachers or counselors, that they would look back, remember this day and want to give back to the kids of tomorrow.
They cheered unanimously that they would.
More information on the Bikes for Kids foundation can be found at https://www.bikesforkidsfoundation.org