Help Cycles for Christmas give away 250 bikes to children in need

This is the 27th year of the Cycles for Christmas project, sponsored by Evening Optimist Club of Sumter.

The goal is to provide more than 250 like-new bikes to children in the Sumter area that may not otherwise receive anything for Christmas this year. New or slightly used bicycles can be donated to any Sumter area fire station to be picked up from there and refurbished to like-new condition; even if you miss the date, you can still donate. Thise bikes will be worked on for next year; collection and repair is a yearlong project.

The bike giveaway is coming up in mid-December, and applications are offered through Sumter School District and other associated organizations. Financial donations can be made to Cycles for Christmas, PO Box 2883, Sumter SC. For more information on how you can help, call Tom Lawrence at (803) 983-2875.