Santa Brings Four Bikes

Christmas came early for four children this year.

On Wednesday, four bicycles were delivered to Tanjaliyah Johnson, Demartre and Roger Loculien, of Sebring, and Dallas Goins, of Lake Placid.

Parkway Free Will Baptist Church received a call from a donor, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Jane Klingensmith. The donor wanted to give away four bikes, and wanted to know if the church's food ministry knew of children who needed them.

When Santa wheeled them out, the kids were thrilled. Roger, 5, who has a wide smile, thought he could beat his brother, Demartre, in a race. Demartre, 11, was silently shaking his head. No way.

Dallas and Tanjaliyah couldn't wait to ride, so they took their bikes around the church parking lot.

"We did a quick total of our 2008 figures," said Klingensmith. "Parkway Food Ministry gave out 12,000 bags of groceries this year."

On Mondays and Fridays, the line stretches around the building, said Dale Hallowell, who manages the food ministry out of a tiny white building on Sebring Parkway. They're hoping to find a modular building to store more food.

One catch though, Hallowell said: it must be made of wood, since the Sebring City Council won't allow metal buildings to be erected.

All the food is from the church, Hallowell said. They don't get government support.

On Wednesday, however, after seeing a newspaper story about food banks, Oak Mobile Home Park donated dozens of bags of groceries, Hallowell said.