Masons' Bikes for Books program rewards 36 elementary kids

It was an afternoon of squeals and wheels inside a gymnasium filled with kids last Saturday when local Masons held their annual bike giveaway.

The bikes were the reward for kids who answered the Masons' challenge to read.

Organizers of the giveaway say the smiles and cheers of delight from kids make it worth all the hard work.

"It's like when adults win the lottery!" said Sherman Allen, a past Master with the local Masonic lodge. "For us we get the satisfaction of knowing we're getting children to read."

Local Masons began their Bikes for Books program eight years ago. So far they've given out around 200 bikes to local kids who read 13 books during a given time period - and had their names drawn.

Masons gave out 36 bikes this year. Ten went to kids in Dateland and the rest were given to Yuma kids whose names were pulled from a jar.

"Masonry has always been a real driving force behind education," Allen said. "That's the whole emphasis of this, getting kids to read. If we can catch them early enough maybe we can make this a habit and they will be reading throughout their lives."

Bikes for Books is open to boys and girls in grades first through sixth.

The program was initially offered for students in Yuma's School District One, but has since been offered to schools throughout Yuma County. The program remains available only to public schools, however.

This year 288 kids from School District One participated, followed by 75 youngsters from Dateland.

"Every kid wants a bike," Allen said. "A lot of these kids we give bikes to really don't have a chance to get a bike any other way. We get letters from kids each year. They thank us for providing bicycles and they really appreciate what the lodge has done for them."

The bikes are "brand spankin' new" and are purchased through Target, which Allen said always includes a few bikes for free. He also lauded another business - Westwoods Furniture - for always donating a big truck and several workers for transporting the bikes.

Each winning kid also receives a free helmet, which Masons purchase through the Yuma County Health District. 

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Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.