BELLA VISTA CHILDREN RECEIVE NEW BIKES

Twenty Bella Vista children received a late visit from Santa when they were given the handles to their new bicycles the last Friday in December. The children, students in LifeSTEPS After School Program at the property, were thrilled to receive such an unexpected surprise. The gift of new bicycles was especially significant for one family who had moved into their new apartment over the holidays. Because the family had to use all of their money for to move, their three children did not receive anything for Christmas. All three of the children received a new bicycle which their tearfully grateful mother called, “a wonderful surprise”.

The bicycles were a gift from Riverside Charitable. The mission of Riverside Charitable includes fostering the creation, management and preservation of supportive service-enriched affordable housing for people of lower income. LifeSTEPS, Riverside Charitable’s nonprofit social services partner, assisted in identifying bicycle recipients (After School Program participants) and helped facilitate the donation. A total of 31 bicycles were donated. The 11 remaining bikes will be raffled, with proceeds benefitting the After School Program.