Cookeville Officials, Academy Sports Deliver Bicycles

Academy Sports and Cookeville Police and Fire Department began delivering a total of thirty bicycles and helmets to Putnam County schools Wednesday.

Store Director Shane Nelson said Academy uses an active-minded philosophy by providing gifts that allow children to be active.

“Academy wants to be able to meet with our kids,” Nelson said. “And show them how much we care and then be able to give back to the community just a little bit.”

Sergeant Mike Herrick with the Cookeville Police Department said the bikes will specifically go to children in need.

“Academy came to me telling me about the program and then I work with the school system,” Herrick said. “And workers in the school system know which kids would need them, may not be able to get them otherwise. And so Putnam Education Partnership Foundation is helping us identify the kids to receive them.”

The Cookeville Fire and Police Departments will hand-deliver the bikes to various Putnam County elementary and middle schools.

“They will be delivered to the schools and it is going to be up to the schools to make arrangements with the parents to pick them up,” Herrick said. “Or they will contact me to deliver if needed. ”

Academy donates bicycles nationwide throughout December.

“It’s fantastic. I know it is cold outside right now loading those bikes,” Nelson said. “But you get that warm fuzzy in your heart when you know you can just help out just a little bit out there. It’s just a wonderful feeling.”

Approximately 5,500 children will benefit from the 120 separate donation events.