GAINESVILLE – Three-year-old Luke leaned against his grandmother, Tammy Grier, mouth agape, not sure what to make of it. A tall man in a red suit with a long white beard had just given him a bicycle.
A priceless moment, indeed, as uniformed members of the Hall County Services Division smiled and took cell phone photos of Luke, Tammy, Santa Claus and Sheriff Gerald Couch Monday morning on the lower level of the Hall County Courthouse.
Ms. Grier said of the occasion, “I never told him I was coming for a bike.”
The occasion was the annual Hall County Sheriff’s Office Christmas Bicycle Program. Over one-hundred new bikes would be given away before the day ended, plus gift cards for the rest of the family to “make sure they have a good meal for Christmas,” explained Sheriff’s Captain Cindy Mustachio who had been spearheading the outreach.
“The program started back in 1997,” Mustachio said, “so it really has become a wonderful tradition for us.”
This year’s target of $10,000 to fund the give-away was met and exceeded according to Mustachio, but a sizable portion of those funds came from personal donations made by deputies. “Yeah, it’s right around a third. It’s just one of those things they don’t want to advertise, but we’re out here to help and give back to our community.”
Sheriff Couch said of his deputies, “They’re very dedicated and very caring. We can all remember back to when we got our first bike…and it’s a wonderful way for us to reach out to our community, and I couldn’t be more proud. They put their hearts in everything they do and clearly it shows today.”
Couch said that the remaining funds for the program were generated by the annual “HCSO Show and Shine” classic car show held each summer, as well as through donations made by supportive private citizens.
Wanda Dorsey of Gainesville said to make sure and keep this a secret, but the lavender-colored bicycle she was taking home was a surprise for her daughter. “She is seven,” Dorsey sang. “I am so excited for her to see this.” (Remember, readers, it’s our secret…don’t tell Cheyenne!)
Surprised or not, over 100-children across Hall County will remember this Christmas as very special thanks to the men and women of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
Good Tidings is a special AccessWDUN holiday series, highlighting the goodwill of groups and individuals during the Christmas season.
