Fayetteville, N.C. — Hundreds of bikes are resting in a Cumberland County warehouse ready for a big Christmas giveaway to children in need.
For 30 years, the Bicycle Man Charity has given bikes to kids in need.
Ann Mathis plans to keep the tradition alive this year and into the future — a tradition started by her late husband.
There’s a sea of bicycles in the warehouse that will be given away to some lucky child.
“I’m thinking by the time the 21st gets here, we’re going to be close to 1,500 bikes,” Mathis said.
School social workers in six counties will select the children who will receive the bikes during a giveaway scheduled for Dec. 21.
Bikes cover the floor of the warehouse from wall-to-wall. Big ones and small ones, all designed to put a smile on a child’s face this Christmas.
“No matter what it looks like, no matter what it got on it, that’s the bike that that child wants,” Mathis said. “And then the smile on their faces, it is awesome.”
Moses Mathis, the Bicycle Man, started the giveaway about 30 years ago in his backyard.
He died six years ago.
His wife promised to keep the program going.
When asked what Moses would be saying if he was looking down right now, Mathis said he would be happy and would say ‘Ann, I don’t believe you did it, girl.’
She has encouraged people like Jon Cumbo to get on board.
“And we saw Ms. Mathis and what she was doing, what her husband was doing” said Cumbo, a bike donor. “And my wife said how cool would that be to donate some bikes. So I said, ‘OK, let’s do it.'”
Not just some bikes.
On Tuesday, Cumbo and his wife donated 100 brand new bikes.
A countless number of volunteers keep the program rolling every year.
“There are all kind of folks that come in here and help me out,” Mathis said. “I appreciated them so so so much.”
The warehouse has a new bike smell along with the scent of happiness that remains in the warehouse from the kids who received bicycles last year.
Mathis says she can’t wait to get that smell in this warehouse again.
