Vidalia &8212; Children in the Miss-Lou got a little bit more mobile Wednesday, thanks to the Concordia Parish Sheriff&8217;s Office.

The 2005 edition of the CPSO&8217;s bicycle giveaway collected almost 400 bikes from the public for distribution to youngsters who would otherwise do without one of the key tools of childhood.

&8220;We want every kid to have a bike,&8221; Sheriff Randy Maxwell said. &8220;It says a lot about how giving and compassionate our community is.&8221;

Bicycles in all states of condition were gathered at the sheriff&8217;s office for repair and refurbishment before being given out all over the area.

Delores Neal stopped by the courthouse to pick up a bike for her 3-year-old son, Dusty Jefferson. He was pretty excited about his new dirt bike, which came complete with training wheels.

&8220;For two days, that&8217;s all he&8217;s been talking about, &8216;Mom, when are we going to get the bike? When are we going to get the bike?&8217;&8221; she said. &8220;It&8217;s a blessing to come here and get him one.&8221;

For those unable to pick up their bikes, the CPSO went to them.

Deliveries to Natchez Children&8217;s Home, the Sunshine Shelter and Catholic Charities &8212; as well as to local ministers &8212; are helping the children celebrate the season.

Nancy Hungerford, director of the Natchez Children&8217;s home, said the delivery of four bikes coincided with the arrival of four new children.

The new children came too late to be on the homes&8217; wish lists, so the bikes will be held as a surprise from Santa.

&8220;The are pretty overwhelmed right now,&8221; Hungerford said. &8220;This will help them a lot. Home is where the bike is.&8221;

Between donation and delivery lies the critical step of repair and beautification.

That is the mien of the inmates of the Concordia Parish Prison.

Bikes ranging from new to nearly fossilized were requested &8212; and received &8212; and the trusties spent long hours in the December weather cleaning, scraping rust and repainting the latter so that every child&8217;s thrill level would be the same.

&8220;It makes us feel better that we&8217;re doing something for kids,&8221; Vernon Walker said.

Walter Juneaux agreed.

&8220;It&8217;s good to see a little kid happy at Christmas.&8221;

When asked about their handiwork, Robert Whitehead pointed to a gleaming blue cruiser and explained that it was once little more than a rust collection.

&8220;That is a Volgamore bike,&8221; he said.

Kevin Volgamore tried but couldn&8217;t conceal a smile.

&8220;That bike is older than I am, and it rides like a new one,&8221; he said.

A squeak-free test ride confirmed his claim.

There are plenty more bikes to give away. Those who requested one can stop by today to see what Volgamore and his group have for them.

Deputies and trusties will load up remaining bikes and deliver them to communities and groups in the parish.

With the generosity of the Miss-Lou making this year the biggest haul of bikes in the history of the program, it may take them a while to get them all delivered.

That&8217;s a good problem to have, Maxwell said.

&8220;The Miss-Lou makes this happen and we have a good time doing it,&8221; he said.

People like Albert Lindsey, who evacuated with his two boys, Joshua and Lance, from New Orleans, are glad they do.

&8220;They wouldn&8217;t have gotten anything, this makes things a lot better,&8221; he said.