Earn a Bike With Woodstock Police

Tuesday, 7 July 2015 15:00

Local kids are being rewarded for their community service with the Woodstock Police with a new Mountain Bike

WOODSTOCK - An unusual pairing is going to award 6 children with something very special but they are going to be put to work first. 30 hours of community service is what the kids have to complete before they can enjoy a brand new mountain bike for the Earn a Bike Program. Community Service and Media Relations Officer for the Woodstock Police Service Nikki VanLeeuwen reveals the groups involved that are making this happen. "Tim Horton's donates the mountain bikes and all the gear that go along with the mountain bikes. This year we are partnering up with the City of Woodstock Parks and Rec. Department, and they have a whole bunch of jobs for the kids to do. At the end of the week once they are finished their work making the City a much more beautiful place then they get their bicycle."

All three local Tim Horton's owners are making the Earn a Bike Program possible again this year and Officer VanLeeuwen explains how the children were chosen to take part in earning a bike. "Most of the participants either saw the information on our web site, and applied or we had some referrals from some of the elementary schools. The nice thing is they get to partner and hang out with police, we all work together, we build our relationship which is an important for young people to see police in a different light. It will give them some self esteem, they are proud of it and they can see it on a daily basis."

Officer VanLeeuwen discusses how long this has taken place and what the youth will be doing. "The partnership with Woodstock City Police has been over 12 years. There is a lot of tagging and graffiti that happens in the community, that's expensive, and it is a cost to business owners and to the Parks Department with their supplies that they have to use to clean it. We can give back, and we have 6 people giving 30 hours of their time. It just helps the community and just cost saves for the city as well." It is all about giving back to the community according to VanLeeuwen who has participated in these events before and knows the kids will learn a lot before Friday when they get to go for a ride on their new bikes.