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Get A Handle On The Holidays

Tampa Tribune staff photo/Greg Fight.

Volunteer Manuel Soler loads up new bicycles destined for foster children at God's Pedal Power Ministry

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By LENORA LAKE, Tribune correspondent

Published: December 22, 2007

UNIVERSITY AREA - Three of the six foster children in Mary Walton's care never have had a bicycle.

That will change this Christmas when all six find new bicycles around the tree.

Walton and other foster parents recently received 200 bicycles from the all-volunteer group God's Pedal Power Ministry. A ministry outreach at University Baptist Church, the group provides bicycles to children and adults in need.

"This helps a lot," said Walton, of the Palm River area, as her truck was loaded with the bikes Dec. 15. There is "no way" she could afford to buy them, she said.

God's Pedal Power teams with the Hillsborough County Foster Parents Association to provide the bicycles.

Mike Olsen, director of God's Pedal Power, said his organization is glad to help those who are helping children.

"They are very appreciative. They are special people to take on the responsibility of raising others' children," said Olsen, a Lutz resident.

Joy Perez, president of the Hillsborough County Foster Parents Association, said such donations are a big help to the foster families - financially and emotionally.

"When the community steps up to the plate to help us out, it's great," said Perez, of Brandon.

Olsen said the Christmas bicycle project is funded by a $10,000 grant from the Hobbs Foundation. Each child gets a new bicycle and helmet as well as a safety book provided through funding from bicycle-themed vehicle license plates.

He said the foster parents submit a list of the children's ages and the bicycle sizes requested. They focus on children 5 and older.

Karen Olsen helps her husband with the shopping, looking for sales and special promotions.

"We start in early November to be sure that we have what we need," Karen Olsen said. "We've been picking them up for weeks now."

On Dec. 15, about a dozen members of the East Tampa Sertoma Club and several other volunteers assisted with the loading. The club also donates money for the bicycle ministry's year-round work of repairing donated bicycles and distributing them.

Sertoma Club President Carl Steiss said the club members want to increase their community involvement and like to support small organizations that don't have high exposure.

"This kind of project fits into that nicely," Steiss said.

Some foster parents have picked up bicycles for different children each year, and some have gotten new ones for the same child who has outgrown the previous donation.

Carol Nixon, a foster parent who takes care of special needs children, came from Lakeland to get a bicycle for a 9-year-old. It was her third year doing so.

"He may have multiple special needs, but he can ride a bike," she said. "It is something I never thought he would do."

Holding back tears, yet smiling, she added, "When I see his face on Christmas morning ..."

TO HELP

God's Pedal Power Ministry accepts donations of new and repairable used bicycles, as well as cash donations, year-round. Volunteers also are needed to help repair and distribute bicycles. For details, call (813) 971-7648 or visit www.godspedalpower.org/ howhelp.html.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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