San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office gives away bikes for the holidays

It’s a holiday tradition that started in 1989

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The Season of Sharing is now in its 34th year. Since 1989, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has been giving away bicycles during the holiday season. And in that spirit of giving, they are currently seeking donations for their Christmas Bicycle Giveaway.

This program was created to promote the holiday spirit by giving away refurbished bicycles and new helmets to children in need in San Luis Obispo County. Due to the generosity of those in the community, the program has continued to be a big success.

The Sheriff’s Office Honor Farm is the assembly point for bicycles that are donated and in need of repair. Inmates who are housed at the Honor Farm make the repairs. The program instills in the inmates a positive work ethic, self-respect, and a sense of worth to the community.

The Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help by asking for new bicycles, new helmets, or monetary donations for replacement parts. They will be accepting adult bicycles, but they prefer children’s bicycles since they are in high demand.

If you know a child (up to 15 years of age) in need of a bicycle, please visit the website at slosheriff.org and click on Community Resources at the top of the homepage and then Forms and Applications on the drop-down menu.

All applications are due by Nov. 28. This year’s Christmas Bicycle Giveaway will take place on Dec. 12 at 9 a.m.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation, Bike SLO County (Bike Kitchen), The SLO Bike Club, The Sandlot Group of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Garbage and County of SLO Health Agency for their continued support and donations to the Sheriff’s Bike Program.

Individuals and businesses who wish to donate children’s bicycles or new helmets in their original packaging can bring them to any of the Sheriff’s Office Patrol stations or to the Sheriff’s Honor Farm located on Highway 1.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution for the purchase of bikes, parts, or helmets, please send a check to:

Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation

Attn: Bicycle Fund P.O. Box 3752

San Luis Obispo, CA 93403

Feature Image: A young girl smiles as she tries out the new bike she received in past bicycle giveaway conducted by the San Luis Obispo County’s Sheriff’s Office. Contributed Photo