The Langley Christmas Bureau received a rather moving donation on Dec. 11 in the form of 40 brand new bicycles.
The bikes are in various sizes.
Dominion Lending Centre donated 500 new bicycles to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau and the Langley Christmas Bureau was allocated 40.
Along with the new bikes came some helmets and locks but not enough for each bike.
After a Langley Advance story went online Thursday about the last minute need, people came forward with financial contributions.
"The Langley Christmas Bureau would appreciate a monetary contribution," explained co-chair Leigh Castron. "We have buying power at local stores and know the gender and size needed. You can donate online at www.langleychristmabureau.com or drop by the bureau, at 20300 Fraser Hwy downtown Langley. Our hours are 10 to 4 Monday to Friday, 10 to 2 on Saturday. We close for the season Dec. 17."
The Langley Christmas Bureau, which is entirely volunteer run and provides Christmas gifts to children of disadvantaged families, won’t give out bikes without helmets. But timelines are short.
Needy families will be given gifts for the children on Toy Depot Days, which are Dec. 15, 16 and 17 (next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). Then the bureau, at Unit 307 20300 Fraser Hwy., packs up, puts its supplies into donated storage and closes for another Christmas.
Anyone who can help with helmet purchases is asked to contact the bureau at 604-530-3001 or online at www.langleychristmabureau.com as soon as possible.
The timeline on the helmet project was short. Langley only found out it was to receive 40 bikes on Thursday. But any donations not received in time for this holiday season are saved for next year.
Langley's is one of the few Christmas bureaus that is entirely volunteer run. Langley City provides the accounting services for the Christmas bureau and Premier Moving and Storage provides storage space and transport for extra gifts and office supplies. Last year the bureau helped 1,650 children in 803 families, and the bureau's discussions with social service providers and community agencies point to an increase in need for this holiday season.