Bikes for the Bayou

On this page, we will relate stories we have gathered during this project.

• From the director of the East Biloxi Coordination and Relief Center, regarding the distribution of the bikes on Tuesday December 20:
  
  The event was wild- and every single bike was taken by the end of the day, and close to 100 more people were there that missed out, it was a hell of a day. Molley took lots of great pictures, and a man from some newspaper from the north who was down visiting took lots of pictures as well and will get those together and send them to you
• From another person attending the distribution:
  
  The bikes were a tremendous success!!!!! People were very excited. The distribution process was not very organized and as the crowds grew, people just came and took bikes. I did not see anyone taking more than one bike. Everyone that I saw who took a bike looked as though they really needed one. I hope the pictures that we get will capture some of the smiles and excitement that I witnessed. All the bikes were taken in about 2 hours. I was unaware of any publicity about the event, but it certainly attracted a large crowd very quickly. Thank you again!!! You made a few hundred people very happy!!!!
• From a Mississippi businessman comes this report:
  
  The bikes were very (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) well received. ... The bikes were deposited in probably the very best spot for those who had the most need (pre- and post- Katrina) and were severely impacted. People in this area (African American and Viet Namese) relied on bikes for much of their pre-K transortation, and their old bikes were simply washed away. Please relay to all what a perfect and appreciated job was done. THANKS!!!
• In early December, one volunteer drove a small trailer to Buxton to pick up a bunch of bikes that were in someone's shed. The owner and his wife frequent yard sales, and this volunteer reports having to step over all manner of things in the shed to get to the bikes, including a stuffed wolf!