By Stephanie R. Jones
Contributing Writer
Cars were lined up before 8 Saturday morning at Smith-Wills Stadium for the second annual Celebrity Bike Giveaway organized by some of Mississippi’s former professional football players.
For the next four hours a steady stream of vehicles filed into the stadium. Their occupants, kids and adults, drove off with smiles on their faces and shiny new bicycles in tow.
Members of the National Football League Retired Players Association – Mississippi, with the help of volunteers, handed out nearly 500 20-inch girls and boys bicycles to anyone who signed up to receive them and some who came out after hearing about the giveaway on WMPR 90.1’s live radio broadcast.
Vernon Perry, president of the players association, said this was the second year for the giveaway. The event was started in 2014 when the group handed out about 200 bikes. “We wanted to do even more this year,” said Perry, a Jackson State University alumnus. “We just wanted to do something special for Christmas for needy and deserving kids.”
Other former players on hand to pass out and load bikes included Willie Richardson, Ollie Smith, Leon Seals, Glenn Collins, Jeffrey Moore, Mike Jones, Frank Sutton and Jerome Jennings among others. The players said they were pleased with the turnout for the event.
The group raised funds throughout the year to pay for the bicycles, Perry said. “We are grateful to all those who helped in this effort,” he said.
Workers at Walmart’s Clinton store spent the past few months assembling the bikes, said Billy Tingle, transportation department supervisor. “This is the second year we’ve done it, and it really turned out well,” Tingle said. The store also delivered the bikes to the stadium.
The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services donated 500 helmets, said Allison Lowther, who was on hand to help pass them out. “We want to keep our children safe while they enjoy their new bikes,” Lowther said.
Anita Johnson and Angela Chambers and other members of the Army Reserve 365th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion also assisted in the operation by greeting people arriving and handling voucher collections.
Coaches from some area schools and others also pitched in with the giveaway.
Debi May of Jackson brought her 12-year-old son, Kevin May Jr., to help. It gave him a chance to gain “service” points for his school, St. Joseph Catholic School. “This is good for him to do and he is enjoying meeting all the players,” May said.
Raina Mims, 5, was all smiles as a bike was loaded into the back seat of her mom’s, Pam Alston, car. “This is just great that they are doing this and she is so excited,” Alston said.
Tiffany Miller echoed the sentiment as she picked up two bikes for her sons who attend Bates Elementary School.
Robert Brazile, dressed in a bright red warmup suit with a Santa vibe and sporting two Super Bowl rings, offered up a rendition of “Silent Night” during the live broadcast on WMPR. The “real Santa” (Martin Harrison) was there as well to add to the Christmas cheer.
New bikes also tended to bring out the kid in many of the players; some of whom couldn’t help taking a spin. Luckily no one took a spill.
Perry said the players are already looking toward next year when they hope to give away 1,000 bikes.
Stephanie R. Jones can be reached at srjones13@gmail.com or (601) 454-0372.
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