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One of the most requested items from any child during Christmas is a new bike. For those less fortunate, bikes are only a dream. However, each and every year, WPSK Radio has helped dreams come true by conducting its annual Christmas Caravan Bike Drive, which is now in its 10th year.
So just how did the bike drive get its name? It all started back in 1997, when WPSK’s Scott Stevens received a phone call from Dublin Police Chief Jay Vest asking for his help with their Christmas Caravan, which was the police department’s charity drive for Dublin. “The department had some kids on the list that wanted bikes. While, they had lots of toys and clothes, they didn’t have bikes. So, he asked me if I could come over to Wal-Mart on Thanksgiving weekend? So, I said, sure, why not,” stated Stevens. “The next thing you know, we had about 300 bikes.” “We gave Dublin the 10 bikes they needed. Then we reached out to the different Christmas Stores, Elf Shelf and Social Services and found that there was a need for bikes.” According to Stevens, these places had a list of kids every year that one of the choices the kids put on their list was a bike. However, for the most part, they skipped over that item because of the prices involved. “We decided to do it again the following year and the Dublin Police Department helped us out, even though it was above their needs for years. After a few years, Dublin stopped once the Pulaski Christmas Store opened, so we continued to do it and kept calling it the Christmas Caravan Bike Drive.” The bike drive in one of the most successful events that WPSK does each year, Stevens pointed out. “The drive, in conjunction with the radio station, area Express Markets and the Montgomery County Moose Lodge has now expanded into bikes, coats and shoes, said Stevens, after they started getting requests for shoes and coats. So how successful has the yearly drive been? “Very successful,” said Stevens. Stevens noted how in years past, different businesses and individuals would call in and challenge others to donate bikes. One example he gave was Volvo, in which one department would challenge another department to donate 30 or 40 bikes to the drive. “We distribute these items to organizations that service the needy at Christmas,” noted Stevens. Some of those organizations include the Montgomery and Pulaski County Christmas Store, Book Shelf in Radford, and a couple of organizations in Floyd and Carroll County, as well as Giles County Social Services. One of the biggest partners of the Christmas Bike Caravan is Express Markets, which has locations in Pulaski, Riner, Floyd and Carroll County. Stevens said anyone wishing to donate bikes, coats, shoes or clothing items may drop them off at the radio station, which is located on Route 11 in Fairlawn, anytime. You can also call him at the station. You can also drop off these items, which must be NEW, at any of the Express Markets. In fact, Stevens will be doing live remotes throughout December as the various markets. On December 7, you can catch him at the Cougar Express from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; December 8, Stevens will be at Cavalier Express in Hillsville from 10 a.m. to noon; December 14 at the West End Express in Floyd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and on December 21, he will be at the Riner Food Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. “I urge everyone stop by on these dates, or at anytime, in fact, and donate a new bike, coat, or shoes to the drive,” said Stevens. Photo: (Top left) WPSK Program Director Scott Stevens stands by some of the new bicycles that have been dropped off at the station as part of the “Christmas Caravan Bike Drive.” (Photo by David Grimes)
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