Aiken County elementary students receive bicycles in time for Christmas

Dec. 25—For the third year, select Aiken area public elementary school students have been able to receive a bicycle at no cost thanks to a donation effort headed by the Aiken County Public School District's Department of Student Services.

Carl White, director of the department, said that the bicycle donations are a great way to "add smiles to student faces during the holiday season," and that the initiative's purpose is to "help brighten their day ... it also gets them up and going."

This year, the department had a goal of procuring 21 bikes for distribution and exceeded that number with a total of 64 bikes. Fifteen of these were collected by Midland Valley High School's students and staff.

"Next year's goal is 100," White said.

Elementary school counselors play a large role in this effort, helping identify which students to provide with a bicycle. Ashley Wood, a counselor at Jefferson Elementary School, spoke about her appreciation for the donated bikes.

"I know what this means to all the students here. It just warms my heart," she said. "You never know what kids have or have not experienced."

This year, Jefferson Elementary School received three bicycles, one directly from the school district and two from Midland Valley High School.

"The families that picked up the bikes for the students were so grateful," Wood said.

She also noted the benefits of bicycles as a gift that provides "an opportunity to play outside and not just ... stay inside with video games."

Bicycle distribution was not limited to Jefferson Elementary — bikes were able to be received by several students in every elementary school across the county.

"It was great," White said.

More information on this donation effort can be found by contacting White via email at cwhite@acpsd.net.