Boy Scouts fixing bicycles for badges

Clovis Boy Scouts Troop 333 will earn merit badges for community service by fixing bicycles this weekend.

Scout Master Lewis Evans said the troop will mix work and fun at an all-night lock-in Saturday night at the Boy Scout Center housed at the Matt 25 Hope Center.

Evans said the troops earn service hours to gain rank in the scouts so helping others isn’t new to them. The reconditioned bikes will be presented to children as Christmas gifts.

“I think they feel pretty good that they did something for the people in the community,” he said. “It’s a good feeling every way around, for them and the people they do it for. It’s kind of a respect thing and a lot of these boys need that.”

Christine Sapp, whose son is a troop member, said Rocky Martin with High Plains Harley-Davidson approached her about recruiting the troops to help with a toy run.

The scouts will fix and clean bikes, which will then be combined with toys raised by the toy run and donated to the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children program.

“With the holiday season we always see food drives and other things. This is something out of the ordinary,” Sapp said.

Sapp said helping with an event like this gives the children a sense of community.

“Everybody should be community-minded. They’re helping out their neighbor. This kind of reinforces that it’s not just your neighbor next door, it’s across the community, the state, even the country,” she said.

Sherri Munro, executive director of Family and Children Court Services, said the goal of the toy run is to give every child in state custody a gift for Christmas.

Munro said the last quarterly report counted 83 children in the area in the state’s custody.

“It’s wonderful that the Boy Scouts are helping us. I think we’re all attempting to achieve the same goal and I think it’s great that all the agencies and organizations are pulling together to take care of us, these kids and the community,” Munro said.

Martin with Harley-Davidson said the toy run will take place Dec. 5 at the motorcycle store. The event will include dropping off donations, lunch, games and a small parade through town to Matt 25 Hope Center to drop off the toys.

Martin said has worked with Eastern New Mexico University and Sandia Elementary School to bring in toys and bikes.

Students at Sandia who donate a toy will be put in a drawing for prizes. That raffle will take place 11 a.m. Dec. 4.

Martin said the toy run is aiming for 100 bikes and will take new or used bicycles.

Fast Facts

What: Toy Run

When: 11 a.m. Dec. 5

Where: High Plains Harley-Davidson

To donate or information: 769-1000