Special to Lake Okeechobee News
OKEECHOBEE -- On Jan. 11, Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office received a surprise donation of lightly used bicycles from Oasis Village for Sheriff Noel E. Stephen's "Ride To Work" program.
The bikes were delivered by Jon Belanger, Bob Dyment and Dorothy Sunday. Deputy Sheriff Dan Franklin was more than happy to take some time to help unload.
Ride To Work was started when a deputies consistently saw the same young man wearing a uniform for a local business walking in the morning towards town.
One day the young man was offered a ride and conversation. It was found that he walked 6 miles to work every day. The deputy was able to give that person a lightly used bicycle that they had at their home, and the young man was very thankful (we still them at the same local store all the time).
Sheriff Stephen caught wind of the deputy's actions and knew there was a way the sheriff's office and his deputies could continue this gesture and start giving abandoned, unclaimed, or donated bicycles to those seen under this exact circumstance.
Since that first bike was given out, over 80 bicycles have been given out to those needing transportation to work.
If you have a new or lightly used working bicycle that you would like to give for this program, please call 863-763-3117 Ext 5018 and set up a drop-off or pickup.
![On Jan. 11, Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office received a surprise donation of lightly used bicycles from Oasis Village. [Courtesy photo]](/uploads/original/20230112-115858-bicycle donation.jpg)
