CHARLOTTE — For the fifth consecutive year, thanks to the generosity of volunteers and parishioners from St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, including members of their Knights of Columbus Council, many children in the community received new bikes this Christmas.
Operation Bikes is part of Operation Santa’s Helpers, which was begun 30 years ago by long time Special Olympics volunteer “Santa” Bob Bowler as a Christmas special needs program.
A committee headed by longtime St. John Neumann members John CasaSanta and Mike Horeth received donations to purchase 163 bikes from the Wal-Mart at the Galleria on North Sardis Road during the store’s Black Friday special.
They were distributed to children from Our Lady of Consolation and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes as well as several local schools by “Santa’s Helpers” Brian and Matt Allio, Bill Edelen, Cindy Satink, John Streitman, Don Zaron, Dave Adams, Mike Munao and Robert Gregory.
— Photo provided by Al Tinson and Marty Schneider