NATCHEZ — Some elbow grease, a few used bicycles and your donations is all the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office needs to give children a Merry Christmas.

The “Trikes and Bikes” 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 to area children.

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

Concordia Parish Sheriff Kenneth Hedrick wants to see that number continue or grow each year to ensure that every child in the parish has a merry Christmas.

“We’re happy to continue this tradition of helping parish children have a good Christmas,” Hedrick said. “But we need your help to make sure the program continue to grow.”

Local residents wanting to donate their new or used tricycles, bicycles or scooters can bring them to the Concordia Parish Courthouse at 4001 Carter St. in Vidalia.

Those wanting to donate can drop their item in the back of the courthouse.

“You don’t even need to get of your car,” Hedrick said. “Someone will take the bike out for you. It doesn’t matter what shape the bicycle is in. If it can’t be repaired, the trusties can use the parts on another bike.”

The trusties have received and worked on nearly 250 bicycles already.

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

Hedrick said the monetary donations are just as important as the bike donations because the funds are used to buy things such as new tire tubes, parts and other items that are needed to repair certain bicycles.

Any families interested in applying for a bicycle or tricycle can pick up an application at the sheriff’s office Wednesday through Dec. 12.

The bicycles will be issued Dec. 15 through 19.

For more information, call the sheriff’s office at 318-336-5231.