cheer to
youngsters
Christmas
cheer to
youngsters
By jeanette M. eng
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — On Christmas Day, nine children in the community looked under their Christmas trees and found shiny new bicycles.
The bicycles were left by Santa Claus, or in this case the Marlboro Police Depart-ment, which answered the need of some of the little boys and girls from the Wicker Memorial Baptist Church, Greenwood Road.
Last summer, Patrolman John Loyer and Patrolman Charles McBurnie of the police department’s Community Policing Bureau were invited to attend the church’s annual picnic. As part of the bureau’s bicycle safety program, the two officers gave a talk about safety and conducted bicycle inspections, giving the children bicycle pointers and safety tips.
During the course of the inspections, the officers determined that some of the children needed safer bicycles to ride.
"The bikes we saw were completely unsafe," Loyer said. "They were falling apart and were made up of pieces from different bikes."
The sobering observations inspired Loyer and McBurnie to involve the police in donating new bicycles to children who needed them.
With the joint efforts of PBA President Janine Eckel, FOP President Nick Barbella and their supervisor, Lt. Douglas Van Note, Loyer and McBurnie were able to raise the money they needed to see their idea through to completion.
"Through dues that we pay each month and mass mailing fund-raisers, we raise and donate a lot of money toward charities and other causes throughout the year," Loyer said.
With information from the Rev. Joseph Pickett that seven boys and two girls ranging in age from 4-14 were in need of bikes, the officers set out to do some Christmas shopping. Nine bicycles and helmets were purchased from Bicycle Hut in Matawan, a store which with the police work closely.
In step with the holiday spirit, the officers decided to give the bicycles anonymously.
"At first we were going to hold a presentation of the bikes," Loyer said, "but we decided to play Santa instead."
As part of the ongoing bicycle safety program, Loyer and McBurnie speak to groups like the Cub Scouts and the Girl Scouts about bike safety. An October program for children in kindergarten through sixth grade is held to warn children about bicycle and Halloween safety. The program has also featured bike rodeos, during which children have their bicycles checked and learn about bicycle traffic rules.