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Economy Slows Bike Program

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

vkalfrin@tampatrib.com

Published: December 21, 2008

TAMPA - Alex Cook loves to imagine 800 children pedaling Christmas morning on bicycles his customers, family and friends helped buy.

"That's pretty incredible," Cook said - but nothing like the 1,416 bicycles they purchased with donations for children last year.

The tight economy has pinched even charities like Cook's annual bicycle drive for children in need, called Alex's Xmas for Kids.

"This might be the first year we didn't reach our goal," said Cook, who had hoped to give away 1,450 bicycles this year.

Cook, 45, owns Alex's Southern Style Bar-B-Q at 5362 West Village Drive in Tampa. He started the giveaway nine years ago, remembering how he grew up among nine siblings in Alabama. He was the youngest of six boys - all of them sharing a bicycle.

"Every kid wants a bike on Christmas Day," he said. So he bought 10 bicycles for charity. Hearing about the purchase, his customers asked if they could help.

"Next thing you know, we had 182 bikes," Cook said. "I always say it's not me; it's my customers. They took it and ran with it."

That first year, Cook and his friend Elizabeth Brennan delivered the bicycles personally, but "we just got too emotional," Brennan said. "He's crying, I'm crying, the kids are crying."

Now, Cook and his helpers contact Hillsborough County elementary schools for lists of about a dozen each who want a bicycle. They also reach out to churches and other charities. They buy 20-inch bicycles from Wal-Mart for about $45 each, targeting children ages 7 to 12.

The bicycles purchased so far have gone to children identified by the schools, Cook said. He would like to donate bicycles to as many ministries as he can by Christmas Eve.

The day after Christmas, he'll start collecting for next year.

"People walk in the store and just drop money into the little blue box that we have. Anything they want to give helps," he said. "There are 800 kids out there that we know are going to get something for Christmas."

To donate, visit the restaurant or mail a check to the restaurant payable to Alex's Xmas for Kids. The donation is tax-deductible.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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