With tears on her face, Councilwoman Heather Hutt described her feelings, then seeing the happy faces of hundreds of children, who received a bicycle as a Christmas gift.
From very early on, Latino and African American families lined up at the Obama Sports Complex to receive the long-awaited gift from the children.
“Even if I wanted to, I can’t hold back the tears because these little faces are so excited that they simply can’t believe that they are going to receive a bicycle and we need it so much in our community,” Hutt told La Opinión. “African American and Latino children are overweight.”
Indeed, researchers such as Dr. Michael Goran and authorities at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) affirm that Latino children face a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and fatty liver.
Goran, director of CHLA’s Diabetes and Obesity program, indicates that 50% of Latino children born today will develop type 2 diabetes at some point in their lives.
Likewise, Latino children and adolescents have the highest rate of obesity compared to any other ethnic group. At two years old, data reveal that these children are twice as overweight and obese as white and African American children.
“We need to physically get children outside the house, ride their bikes and breathe fresh air,” the councilwoman said. “I am very happy to be able to contribute to your health.”
Emotionally impacted by her memories as a single mother, Hutt said there was a time when her son, Hugh Augustine,’s bicycle was stolen when he was a child and he had no money to get it back.
Less work from ‘Santa Claus’
The one who was overjoyed was Salvadoran José Figueroa, a construction employee who took two hours to enter the sports complex with his sons Chris and Anthony Martínez, to whom they gave their new bicycles.
“I like my bicycle,” was the only thing the minor said, while his father commented that the gift was very helpful because he still had to buy gifts for his other son, Lucas Figueroa.
“The economic situation is neither good nor bad in my home,” said the émigré construction worker from Chalatenango, El Salvador. “What I can tell you is that work drops a lot in December.”
The solidarity of volunteers, residents of Council District 10 and technicians from the East Side Rider Bike Club, Ride On!, Biking While Black dedicated themselves to assembling more than 1,000 bicycles since the weekend.
Adam Paul, one of the volunteers, couldn’t keep up with filling the bicycle tires with air.
“It’s 15 seconds of air for each tire,” he said. “I passed by this place last night. [Obama Sports Complex]I stopped to ask questions about what was going on and they told me they needed help, so I decided to do something for the community.”
In fact, Adam loves anything to do with riding bikes and getting kids more active, more often.
“That’s my goal,” he said.
Complete solidarity in the community
Gerry Anderson was sweating and looking for a bottle of water to quench his thirst, after spending continuous hours checking the safety of the pedal and handlebar assembly of hundreds of bicycles.
“It feels good to help bring joy to children,” Anderson said. “I came from Arizona, and you feel special for helping children be happy.”
For his part, Adé E. Neff, founder of the bike shop Ride On! Bike Shop & Co-Op, located in the heart of Leimert Park, says he is not only passionate about bicycles, but he believes bicycles offer a simple solution to many of the complex problems in our communities.
“My mission is to promote cycling as an outlet to improve personal health and the health of our environment,” he says. “Bicycles can help save money on transportation and can provide endless miles of fun with family and friends.”
For Tracy Mitchell, president of Mothers in Action, Inc., of View Park-Windsor Hills, when faced with the excitement of being part of the delivery of new bicycles to children in communities with greater economic needs in the city of Los Angeles, “there is nothing “Better than giving a child a bicycle for Christmas.”
Mitchell recalled that, as a child, that was one of the most exciting moments of her life.
“I am happy to help Councilwoman Heather Hutt bring joy to the children of our community; Sometimes Santa Claus didn’t have enough money to buy them a bicycle, and now they have one is very good so they can exercise and have fun at the same time.”
Grateful Latin families
“Look at her, my daughter is happy with her bike, although she still hasn’t learned how to handle it,” said Joana Chinchilla, from San Miguel, El Salvador, while little Melanie dared to say that the gift was “great!”
Guatemalan Ángel López, originally from Xelajú, told La Opinión that at his son Derrick’s school, 7 years old, they chose him to be awarded the bicycle at Christmas.
“He wanted a Play Station [cuesta de 500 a $1,000] but you can’t,” he said. “Everything is very expensive. Also, my job at the restaurant is not like before; people don’t leave tips; The clientele has decreased and we depend on the tips [propinas]”.
Honduran Adán Marroquín and his wife Candy Mautar, both originally from the Mayan archaeological zone, Copán Ruinas, expressed that, in addition to the bicycle obtained for their daughter, Katherine, nine years old, they would probably buy her the Barbie doll she wants.
For Martha Camarena from Jalisco, grandmother of little Bella, eight, and Austin, six, the family’s economic situation is not very healthy.
“A bicycle is almost always what they ask for, and now they are going to have it,” he said.
“Every Christmas is a little more difficult,” added Zulia Tamayo, a Mexican-Salvadoran.
A friendly hand
Dr. Sherman Gay, events president of the Los Angeles Sustainability Coalition, donated 600 protective helmets for the new little cyclists, which cost approximately $9,000.
“We are a non-profit organization and we were able to get some sponsors,” the doctor told La Opinión. “We worked with the public agency Metro Airport in Long Beach and obtained many contracts for donations for low-income people in Districts 8, 9 and 10, for food and bicycles each year.”