Release posted on 12-06-22 at 3:24 p.m.

St. Petersburg Police will be giving out 200 bikes to needy kids at a special holiday event held in the Police Dept. parking lot, Wednesday, December 7th. Officers and volunteers will unload the bicycles at 6:15 p.m. and the invited families will begin arriving at 7 p.m. Interested media should enter the police parking lot through the 2nd Avenue North entrance that is closest to 16th Street.

The kids will pick out a bicycle, then officers will fit them with helmets, locks and bike lights. The bicycles were donated through the generosity of Alex and Kacy DeJesus in partnership with St. Pete Fools Charities. They will also be providing hamburgers and hot dogs for all the attendees. Not only are they bringing cheer to children for the holidays, but they're also providing positive interaction between police officers and the families.

This all started December 20th, 2019, when Alex DeJesus spotted an officer buying a bicycle for a teen in the Walmart check-out lane. He offered to buy a 2nd bicycle for officers to give a second child. He returned to the Police Dept. three days later with a dozen more bikes.

In 2020, DeJesus surprised us by donating 80 bikes, and in 2021 he and the Fools Club Charities donated about 130 bikes. This year they're bringing us 200 bicycles, complete with helmet and locks!!!!