Last week, the Sullivant Gardens Community Center was host to an unforgettable event. Our wonderful friends from the Columbus Division of Police, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Dublin Police Department, the Cincinnati Division of the FBI, and the 614 Cadets gathered to distribute bikes to children during our final Bikes & Badges event of 2023.
The event began with CPD Deputy Chief Tim Myers leading a Books & Badges reading, captivating the children with stories about tigers. Every child had the joy of taking home a copy of the book. Following this, Chief Myers, alongside CPD Lieutenants Chris Lieb, Paul Szabo, and DPD Sergeant Bill Morris, taught them about their police gear, signed their books, and gave them fun donut stickers and stamps.
We were thrilled to welcome FCSO Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and his charming wife, Barb. Although Chief Myers offered Sheriff Baldwin the chance to lead the instructions to the officers, he chose to listen in, commenting nostalgically on how long it had been since his last roll call at the center.
Then came the main event, of course: the moment when the children were paired with their shiny bikes and helmets! Some found it hard to believe these bikes were theirs to keep. One little girl had to be assured repeatedly that she actually got to take her beautiful new bike home and keep it forever. It was such a privilege to be part of putting those smiles on their faces.
The success of Bikes & Badges is a testament to the tireless efforts and steadfast support we've received over the past four months, and we want to thank the many people who came together to make this happen. This includes our incredible sponsors Byers Airport Subaru, the Cooper Family Foundation, Shook Construction, and CME Federal Credit Union. Thank you also to Walmart Britton Parkway, Walmart Georgesville Road, Columbus Public Health, and the Department of Neighborhoods.
A special thank you to the agencies who held bike drives for this event: Dublin Police, Gahanna Division of Police, the Cincinnati Division of the FBI, and Columbus Division of Police. Grove City Police deserves a special mention for their generous donation of bikes. As always, we are immensely grateful to the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department for their continued support and partnership.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the numerous volunteers and officers from multiple agencies who dedicated their time and expertise to ensure this event's success. From providing logistical support to fixing bikes, you have been amazing, and we appreciate you tremendously.
And finally, a standing ovation for all the individual bike donors. Your generosity brought smiles to children's faces and made a difference that will last a lifetime.
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