Partnering with the Salvation Army, Local 35’s Christmas bike program is underway. The Local has collected over $2,600 dollars and has already purchased 42 bikes for children and received additional donations of bicycles for a total of over 46 bikes this year!

Members of Local 35 worked hard to secure donations and purchase the bikes, which were then delivered to the Salvation Army warehouse in Little Rock to be distributed this season through that agency’s Angel Tree Program. By filling out an Angel Tree card detailing what they’d like for Christmas, children in North Little Rock and the Pulaski County area who specifically asked for bikes this year will be matched by age to the bicycles donated by our Union.

According to Secretary Alan Tetkoskie, just over $500 dollars remains uncollected. If money comes in after the Union has purchased this year’s bicycles, the late-arriving money will be held for next years program. Contributors who donated this year included North Little Rock Fire Department members, city employees, and citizens. Local 35 would like to publicly thank the City Council of North Little Rock for allowing us time to announce collections during recent council meetings. We also thank Paul Myrick and Bob's Pawn Shop for serving as collection points and North Little Rock Fire for providing us with a place to store the bikes.

(Note: All money collected by the Union for the purchase of bicycles goes toward the cost of the bikes.)

-- AKM