Over one-hundred kids picked out their first bikes and took them for a test ride on Dec. 15. The King Center in Rock Island hosted the annual "Bikes for Brains" give-away, where kids in need receive bikes and helmets at Christmas.
The Queen's Parlor salon, Bike 'n Hike, and the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education work together each year to raise money and host the give-away party.
Sandy Seeley-Copley, owner of Queen's Parlor in Moline, says they raised eight-thousand dollars this year to provide bikes, helmets, and books to deserving kids.
She says "Bikes for Brains" started 14 years ago, when Steve DePron, owner of Bike 'n Hike, donated and put together 25 bikes. Now, over one-hundred bikes are provided by Walmart every year. And, other organizations in the community help too.
The Pilot Club of Moline has been helping for five years. Spokeswoman Barb Crawford says they raised money to pay for the helmets. And, put on a puppet show to teach the kids about bike safety.
Seeley-Copley says the kids have never owned bikes before, and are chosen by Head Start and the Early Childhood Centers.