Joe Santos

Hello OBRA,

My name is Joe Santos and I work for the Portland Police Bureau. A
co-worker of mine, Susan Billard, is collecting kids bikes to donate to the
Parry Center. Susan wrote the below email to the Police Bureau and I
thought the generous folks at OBRA could help as well. If you have a bike
to donate please let me know and I'll arrange pick up of the bike.
Unfortunately, I'll have to limit pick-up to the Portland area. This is a
great cause and a very nice thing Susan is doing for kids who are in a
tough situation.

Thanks,
Joe

*Good Morning; *
* *
*First, I would like to thank the officers and support staff who have
already donated kids bikes through the pilot program. I wish you could
have seen the faces of the kids when the bikes arrived; they were so happy
and the staff was so grateful. I now am expanding the bike turn in program
to all precincts/divisions now, in the hope that some of you are purchasing
new kids bikes for Christmas this year and you might have an old one you
would like to donate. I can provide you with a tax receipt for your
donation, just in time for the end of the year! *
**
*If you have a kids bike you would like to donate, please let me know and
bring it to your precinct and secure it in your bike room. I will pick up
the bikes and deliver them to the kids. I would ask that the bike be in
working order; brakes should be functional. Tire inflation is not an
issue. *
**
* For those of you not familar with the Parry Center, the children living
there are primarily wards of the state who will never return to their
parents. Because of serious behavioral problems they are not able to be
fostered. Some have been terribly abused and neglected. Some have been
starved and have issues now with hoarding food. These kids are young; as
young as 7 and 8 years old. They will never have a "normal" childhood. We
can give them something special this Christmas. Thank you in advance for
your help with the program! *
**
*Susan Billard*
*Central Precinct*