Only moments after receiving the Christmas present, Kaila Smith, age four, sits atop her new bicycle (with training wheels).

Associated Grain Terminals donates 100 bikes to Plaq. kids

About 130 children from Plaquemines Parish will be receiving new bicycles for Christmas this year, at no cost to their families.

The annual holiday bike donation, which is in its fifth year in Plaquemines Parish, is made possible through the collective efforts of the Associated Grain Terminal and the Department of Children and Family Services.

“We know there are a lot of families who have needs at Christmas,” said Keith Roach, an operations manager with the Associated Grain Terminal. “This is our way of helping out.”

The Associated Grain Terminal paid for and delivered all of the bicycles, 130 in Plaquemines Parish and 300 in total throughout the region.

To afford the bill, each of the Associated Grain Terminal employees had the option to give up between one and three hours of pay, which the company would then match, Roach said.

The Department of Children and Family Services partnered with the grain terminal to help with the organizational aspect of the donation. DCFS came in to identify the local families in need, and also figure out the various ages and genders of the children who would be receiving bicycles.

The bikes ranged in size and color, the smallest ones were even equipped with training wheels, and they all had a helmet tethered to the handlebars.

Kevin Smith was there with his family to get a bike for his four-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son.

“I’m very proud of this because I used to work for the [Associated Grain Terminal] and they just asked me to come back,” Smith said. “That’s how I’ve always known them, to do that, to give back to the community.”

—
Michelle Provencher
michelle@plaqueminesgazette.com