DeLAND, Fla. – The owner of Central Florida Recycling Center in DeLand handed out free bikes to area children Thursday.
Owner Danny Gennaro said that he was able to refurbish about 150 bikes.
"We gave them to foster families last week. Like even this morning we had some churches that came in too and pastors. We donate bigger quantities to them, too," Gennaro said.
It's the first year Gennaro has accepted the donated bikes with the goal of handing them out during Christmas.
"I was really impressed, you know, last week, I was really impressed the kids. They were like in tears. A lot of kids don't have presents and even if it's a bike each, it's something," Gennaro said.
Several kids were seen on Thursday picking through the bikes, searching for the perfect one.
"Some kids don't have Christmas gifts, and it's good they will get something; at least a bike for exercise and transportation," said Luis Renteria, who was picking out bikes with his younger siblings.
Gennaro hopes to make the free Christmas bike giveaway a yearly tradition.
"I'm really happy to know that whatever we can get out of our recycling company, whatever we can get out of it and make it fixable and donate it for us, it makes us feel happy and that's what it's all about," Gennaro said.
Central Florida Recycling Center is still accepting donated bikes at its facility at 906 S. Garfield Ave. in DeLand.