Just a couple of weeks ago, Prestage Foods of Iowa employees in Eagle Grove decided they wanted to do something to make a difference locally. That’s when Robert Lamirande, Kevin Page, and Bob Cooper started asking their fellow employees to make a monetary donation, be it big or small, so that they could purchase bikes for area children for Christmas through the Wright County Upper Des Moines Opportunity (UDMO) Bikes for Tykes program.
The employees opened their hearts and wallets, quickly donating more than $2,500 to the campaign. Prestage Foods donated an additional $750.
“Everybody opened up their pocket books and said ‘Let’s go,’” said Lamirande.
The men were grateful, and shocked. They said they couldn’t believe how quickly people donated…and then didn’t even make it around to the hundreds of employees to ask them with such limited time to the deadline. With this money, they were able to purchase 33 bikes and 15 helmets…that was everything they could find in stock close to home.
When they delivered the bikes and helmets on Wednesday, Dec. 9, UDMO Director Sara Treiber was excited. As they unloaded, they visited about all of the programs UDMO has to offer. That’s when Cassidy Reed, data entry and payroll for Prestage, spoke up and told the men that they still had more than a thousand dollars left from the collection. Lamirande and Cooper agreed, that money was staying at Wright County UDMO too so they could purchase other gifts for children’s birthdays, etc.
“We appreciate it a bunch,” said Treiber.
Before leaving, Lamirande and Cooper already started talking about plans for next year and that they would start collecting money now. In fact, one of them even told Reed to start deducting money automatically from every paycheck that would go to UDMO at the end of 2021. He is hoping others will follow suit so that they can provide more food, toys, and everyday items like shampoo and soap. They want to help not just during the season of giving, but give help all year long.
The bikes and helmets were given out to qualifying families with children who had pre-registered with the Bikes for Tykes program.
