VIDALIA &8212; Hundreds of needy children in the Miss-Lou may get their Christmas wish of riding around in a shiny new bicycle, thanks to the Concordia Parish Sheriff&8217;s Office.

&8220;Every kid wants a bike. Even I like bikes, and I&8217;m a grown man,&8221; said deputy jailer Lee Ford.

For 17 years, the sheriff&8217;s office has participated in a &8220;Bikes for Christmas&8221; program, started by Sheriff Randy Maxwell. Throughout the year, people donate used bicycles and tricycles, and starting around November, inmates refurbish them.

The project is a positive thing not only for the community, but also for the inmates.

&8220;Kids will benefit from it. I&8217;m glad to do it because it will put a smile on a kid&8217;s face,&8221; said CPSO Trustee Howard Green.

&8220;I love the work. It gives me something positive to do with my time, and it gives me a chance to give back to the community,&8221; one inmate said.

This year, six inmates began working on the bikes on Friday, and by Saturday afternoon, 100 were already lined up and waiting for their new owners.

&8220;People have been bringing them in to us, and we take them and fix them up. We got some in pretty bad shape, but once we finish with them, they&8217;re ready to go. We fix the brakes, the seats, put pedals on, chains, kickstands &8230; We wash them and sometimes paint them, too,&8221; said an inmate who enjoys the work.

The inmate said that those beyond repair are used for parts, and that they hope to have 300 fixed up by Christmas.

Most of the bikes are given to children who submit applications at the sheriff&8217;s office.

&8220;I think it&8217;s a great thing,&8221; said Ford. &8220;So many kids are less fortunate, and this is helping to induce an environment with a greater quality of life. How many bikes do you see on the side of the road, beaten up, with no owner? We can fix them up and put them to use, and put a smile on another kid&8217;s face.&8221;

If you have an old bike to donate, or if you would like to sign up to receive a bike, contact the Concordia Parish Sheriff&8217;s Office for more information.