VIDALIA — Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office officials are calling on residents to give them — and Santa Claus — a hand to make Christmas that much more memorable.

The sheriff’s office is asking residents to donate bicycles for its “Trikes and Bikes” program, which was started in 1990.

Sheriff Kenneth Hedrick said keeping the tradition alive is vital to ensuring children receive a gift come Christmas time.

“This program has helped many children in our community have a memorable Christmas, and we want to do whatever we can to make sure we keep that going,” Hedrick said. “We work on these bikes all year round to make sure children have something under the Christmas tree.”

From now until mid-December, trusties from the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility will repair donated bicycles, tricycles and scooters that will be eventually given to families in need in late December.

Hundreds of bicycles ranging from mountain bikes to cruisers sit behind the parish courthouse ready to be repaired or taken apart for parts.

The trusties have received and worked on nearly 150 bicycles, but Hedrick said that is only half of what they hope to accomplish.

“Our goal is to collect and give away 300 bikes,” Hedrick said. “We need people’s help to bring in any bicycles they might have that we could fix up.”

Anyone wishing to donate a used bicycle or tricycle can drop it off between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. behind the sheriff’s office at 4001 Carter St. in Vidalia.

“You don’t need to even get out of the car,” Hedrick said. “Someone will take the bike out for you.

“And it doesn’t matter what shape the bicycle is in — if it can’t be repaired, the trustees can use the parts on another bike.”

Donations of new bicycles are also welcome, Hedrick said.

Monetary donations can be mailed to CPSO Bike Program, Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, 4001 Carter St., Room 7, Vidalia, LA 71373.

Any families interested in applying for a bicycle or tricycle can pick up an application at the sheriff’s office from Dec. 4 through 13.

The bicycles will be issued Dec. 16 through 20.

For more information, call the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-336-5231.