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Bike Drive Is Smokin'

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A staff report

Published: November 21, 2007

Updated: 11/13/2007 02:55 pm

CARROLLWOOD - At Alex's Southern Style BBQ, ordering smoked meat has become synonymous with helping needy kids get bikes for the holidays.

The barbecue restaurant on West Village Drive near Ehrlich Road is getting ready to kick off its annual bike drive.

Owner Alex Cooks wants to raise enough money to buy 1,400 new bicycles for underprivileged children throughout Hillsborough County.

The fundraiser, which started in 2000 and netted 182 bikes, has grown each year. Last year's effort garnered 1,324 bikes.

Most regular customers know about the Alex's Xmas for Kids campaign. The new customers only have to look around the restaurant to learn what it is about.

There are posters from years past trumpeting the drive and final bike counts. Cooks has a few bikes resting against the walls of the restaurant. A big blue box on the counter invites customers to toss in change to help the bike drive for needy children.

Cooks estimates he needs to raise $56,000 to pay for the 20-inch bikes he plans to buy from Wal-Mart at $40 each.

"Oh my gosh, $56,000. I'd rather think of 1,400 bikes," said Cooks, who lives in Odessa with his wife and four boys.

Cooks said he started the bike drive seven years ago after he bought 10 bikes and set them around a Christmas tree in the restaurant.

Customers asked him what he was going to do with them, and he said he wanted to give them to underprivileged children. In 17 days, customers pitched in enough money to buy 182 bikes, and the giveaway took off.

Cooks asks principals and guidance counselors at the 122 Hillsborough elementary schools to identify needy schoolchildren, typically ages 7 to 12.

Cooks, who grew up in a family with 10 children, said every child dreams of having a new bike at Christmas, and he knows the disappointment of not having one.

"At Christmastime, it has to be a new bike," he said. "Every kid wants a bike."

Donation collection will continue until mid-December, with the giveaway planned Dec. 19. To contribute, call Cooks at (813) 269-0050.

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