VIDALIA — A little elbow grease and your donations is all the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office needs to give children a Merry Christmas.

The Christmas bike program takes bikes, tricycles and other riding toys donated by the community and gives them to less fortunate children of the parish.

Parish inmates repair, paint or use the bikes for spare parts, depending on the condition, before the bikes are distributed.

Since its creation in 1990, the program has given away approximately 300 bikes each year.

Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell started the program the first year he was in office and said he hopes to provide as many children with bikes as possible.

“This is what the Christmas season is all about — kids and kindness,” Maxwell said. “Nothing’s better than making a child happy at Christmas.”

Maxwell said the community has been a key part in the success of the program.

“People throughout the Miss-Lou community have really been good in the past to help us with the project,” Maxwell said. “Some individuals and businesses have even brought us brand new bikes to give to children.”

Used bikes can be dropped off at the rear of the Concordia Parish Courthouse, 4001 Carter St. or monetary donations for parts or paint can be sent to the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, 4001 Carter St. Room 7, Vidalia, LA 71373.

Bike and or monetary donations are accepted year round.

Parents can fill out applications for the bikes at the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office receptionist’s desk on the second floor of the Concordia Parish Courthouse from Dec. 7 to 16. Distribution begins Dec. 19.

For further information, contact the sheriff’s office at 318-336-5231.