An anonymous family donated 20 bikes – 10 bikes each – to Rod
Kelley and Las Animas Elementary schools. Rod Kelley distributed
the bikes by holding a writing contest. Interested third and fourth
grade students wrote essays explaining why they wanted a bike. The
donor read the essays and chose 10 winners. Santa presented the
bikes to winning essay writers at a Dec. 16 school assembly.
An anonymous family donated 20 bikes – 10 bikes each – to Rod Kelley and Las Animas Elementary schools. The bikes, some red and some pink, were the right size for third and fourth grade children.
“The donation of bikes is really a wonderful gift to our school,” said Luis Carrillo, Rod Kelley principal in a press release. “It not only brings joy to children who may not receive such a gift, but it also teaches about two of our six pillars of character – caring and citizenship.”
Rod Kelley distributed the bikes by holding a writing contest. Interested third and fourth grade students wrote essays explaining why they wanted a bike. The donor read the essays and chose 10 winners. Santa presented the bikes to winning essay writers at a Dec. 16 school assembly.
“It was very touching. We’ve never had anyone just give us bikes like that, and we have a population that could really benefit from a gift like that,” said Chris West, a parent of a Rod Kelley student.
“I really, really want one, I never had a bike,” wrote third grader Eddie Johnson in his winning essay. “I can’t wait to learn how to ride it,” he added in his thank you letter.
The Rod Kelly Elementary winners from third grade are Stephanie Alvarado, Miguel Cabrera, Kassandra Corona, Nancy Gutierrez, Luis Higuera and Anthony Lopez. The fourth grade winners included Nayely Barrera, Justen Clemente, and Kayla McKeon.
Los Animas was unavailable during Christmas break for information on their winners and how the bikes were distributed.
