The Surrey Christmas Bureau launched its 2017 season Wednesday by handing out donated bicycles to needy children. It鈥檚 expecting a busy year compared to last year, which saw more than 2,000 disadvantaged families 鈥� 4,000 or so kids among them 鈥� get a much-needed boost this holiday season.
The 40 bikes were delivered that same day in a van, behind the at 6878 King George Blvd., by R.E.C. for Kids, a group formed in 2007 by White Rock Rotarians dedicated to 鈥減roviding Recycled Equipment and Cycles for kids,鈥� hence the acronym.
Lisa Werring, executive director of the bureau, expected the bikes to go fast. 鈥淎s everybody knows, when you鈥檙e a child getting a new bike under the tree for Christmas, it鈥檚 a dream come true,鈥� she said Wednesday. 鈥淪o I imagine there is going to be some very happy parents leaving the bureau today.鈥�
Werring is anticipating a busy 2017 Christmas season.
鈥淟ast year we helped just about 2,000 families,鈥� Werring told the Now-Leader. 鈥淭hat includes over 4,000 children and generally year over year we see about a 10 per cent increase. I anticipate we will see over 2,000 families come through this year, and as I said, it starts today 鈥� the need is really great.鈥�
The bureau will operate until at least Dec. 20 and perhaps longer, depending on the need. 鈥淩ight now we鈥檙e finishing registrations. Registrations are still active until December 2nd, that鈥檚 this Saturday,鈥� Werring said.
鈥淭he toys start going out the door today,鈥� she said Wednesday, 鈥渁nd will carry on through December. We are also continuing to receive donations down here at the depot, donations of new unwrapped toys as well as cash donations and we are in desperate need of cash donations as well as we did have two funders that were unable to help us this year, two major funders.鈥�
Donations especially needed now are toys for children ages eight to 12.
Ian Lagasse is president of R.E.C. for Kids. 鈥淎ll my buddies call me Le Goose,鈥� he joked.
His group, a non-profit organization, means business.
鈥淪o far this year, since January 1, we have delivered 746 bicycles to disadvantaged kids and families,鈥� Lagasse said. 鈥淭his mission of the R.E.C. for Kids society is to provide reconditioned sports and recreational equipment to children in need in Surrey, White Rock, North Delta and 91原创. So that鈥檚 the catchment area our focus is on.鈥�
Werring said their work is 鈥渁mazing.鈥�
Fred Wickens, a member of R.E.C. for Kids, helped with Wednesday鈥檚 delivery.
鈥淲e鈥檝e worked on some bikes, we recycled the bikes and fixed them all up, then we bring them to the Christmas Bureau for them to distribute,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e donated to us, we get some of the stolen bikes from the RCMP. People donate them.鈥�
Want to donate a bike to a disadvantaged child? 鈥淢ake dreams real!鈥� is R.E.C.鈥檚 motto.
R.E.C. for Kids is located at 13379 68th Ave. in Surrey and can be reached by phoning 604-598-0322, or by email at admin@recforkids.com and www.recforkids.com.
Want to donate to the Christmas Bureau? You can visit or call 604-581-9623 for more information.
