Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Latest Charity Drive Nets Many Bikes
 |
| Fran Johnson and volunteers from the Yankton American Legion Post 12 load up 70 bikes and other various sporting equipment prior to transporting it to Winner for distribution on the Indian Reservations. (Submitted photo) |
By Shauna Marlette
shauna.marlette@yankton.net
When Fran Johnson and the Yankton American Legion Post 12 started collecting used sporting goods two years ago, they were unsure what the reaction would be locally, but they knew the project was for a good cause.
“What we do is, we run a promotion to get playground equipment and recreational equipment for the kids out on the Indian reservations, Rosebud and Pine Ridge both,” said Johnson, Legion 12 coordinator of the project. “There are 700 kids out there with nothing to do. We are trying to give them something to keep them occupied, a basketball, a baseball glove, just something to play with and stay occupied.”
The October drive was the third in Yankton during the last two years and this time, while they did collect some items, it was not as much as before.
“The last two times we used the Summit Center as the drop-off point and people were bringing the equipment in right and left,” Johnson said. “For some reason, we didn’t get a whole lot of anything this time — but oh my goodness, did we get bikes! Most of the stuff we collect is used stuff. I am not particular; whatever people want to give, we will take.”
One main source of the bikes this fall was the city landfill. Anytime sporting equipment was dropped off they gave Johnson a call and he would go and pick it up.
“One day, I went out and picked up 15 bikes,” Johnson said. “Some of them, all that was wrong was a flat tire. So, that is one source of donations.
“Thing is, people haul all this stuff to the dump and just toss it away. There is nothing wrong with these that can’t be fixed, and people are just throwing it away. So we go pick it up, fix what needs fixing and then give it to the kids.”
Several other people contributed to the large number of bikes, as well.
“I have a friend that runs a campground and he donated a half-dozen (bikes) that were left behind when people checked out. We got 15 of them from Mike Durfee prison. Royal Sports donated a couple. It ended up there was right at 70 bikes.”
The group then took the bikes and other equipment to Winner where Chuck McCormick arranged to have them repaired and distributed.
“McCormick knows a lot of people out on the reservations,” Johnson said. “He knows who to contact to make sure the right kids are getting the right equipment. The kids into basketball get basketball stuff; the kids who need a bike get a bike.”
When asked what’s next for the group, Johnson noted they are only going to do the drive once a year from now on.
“This fall, I think we tried to do the donation too often for a town this size,” he said. “We will do it again next fall. Near as I know now, we will go to city hall again.”
Johnson also expressed his thanks to the community for its help.
“I have learned that a lot of people have a big hearts,” he said. “They can talk about all the bad stuff in the world and everything, but when it comes to helping out kids, most people will bend over backwards to help them out, and I am one of them. I have a passion to help kids and this is one way I can help out a bunch of kids that desperately need help.”
“What we do is, we run a promotion to get playground equipment and recreational equipment for the kids out on the Indian reservations, Rosebud and Pine Ridge both,” said Johnson, Legion 12 coordinator of the project. “There are 700 kids out there with nothing to do. We are trying to give them something to keep them occupied, a basketball, a baseball glove, just something to play with and stay occupied.”
The October drive was the third in Yankton during the last two years and this time, while they did collect some items, it was not as much as before.
“The last two times we used the Summit Center as the drop-off point and people were bringing the equipment in right and left,” Johnson said. “For some reason, we didn’t get a whole lot of anything this time — but oh my goodness, did we get bikes! Most of the stuff we collect is used stuff. I am not particular; whatever people want to give, we will take.”
One main source of the bikes this fall was the city landfill. Anytime sporting equipment was dropped off they gave Johnson a call and he would go and pick it up.
“One day, I went out and picked up 15 bikes,” Johnson said. “Some of them, all that was wrong was a flat tire. So, that is one source of donations.
“Thing is, people haul all this stuff to the dump and just toss it away. There is nothing wrong with these that can’t be fixed, and people are just throwing it away. So we go pick it up, fix what needs fixing and then give it to the kids.”
Several other people contributed to the large number of bikes, as well.
“I have a friend that runs a campground and he donated a half-dozen (bikes) that were left behind when people checked out. We got 15 of them from Mike Durfee prison. Royal Sports donated a couple. It ended up there was right at 70 bikes.”
The group then took the bikes and other equipment to Winner where Chuck McCormick arranged to have them repaired and distributed.
“McCormick knows a lot of people out on the reservations,” Johnson said. “He knows who to contact to make sure the right kids are getting the right equipment. The kids into basketball get basketball stuff; the kids who need a bike get a bike.”
When asked what’s next for the group, Johnson noted they are only going to do the drive once a year from now on.
“This fall, I think we tried to do the donation too often for a town this size,” he said. “We will do it again next fall. Near as I know now, we will go to city hall again.”
Johnson also expressed his thanks to the community for its help.
“I have learned that a lot of people have a big hearts,” he said. “They can talk about all the bad stuff in the world and everything, but when it comes to helping out kids, most people will bend over backwards to help them out, and I am one of them. I have a passion to help kids and this is one way I can help out a bunch of kids that desperately need help.”
 |
 |
|
| Orchestral Maneuvers | High School Students Exposed To Health Careers At USD |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Not registered yet?
