The Bay Area Optimist Club of Coos Bay, Oregon has donated 350 bicycle helmets to the Coos Bay, North Bend, and Charleston Fire Departments. The Fire Departments keep them on hand and distribute to children as they need them.According to Optimist board member Jill Hanson, the idea to donate helmets came from a visit she took to a fire station in Douglas County a few years ago. She saw a youngster come in and ask for a helmet. The fireman helped the child pick out the size and color that he wanted.
An idea was born! As an Optimist Club member, she saw that an opportunity existed to start a great program within the community. She spoke to Fire Department Chief Gibson who said they didn't have such a program so she explained to him, I belong to the Optimist Club , we're for youth, [let's do] it together."
The club has donated 1,250 helmets over six years. Free helmets are available at the Coos Bay Fire Department every day between 9 am and 7 pm.
