‘MOM’ to bring food, bicycles to Albany youths for Christmas

ALBANY – This MOM has been delivering hundreds of shiny new bikes to some of Albany’s most needy kids for five years, along with serving a meal for thousands and distributing toys to many others.

In this case, “MOM” is the acronym for Men on a Mission, and the group is looking to expand that mission into Dougherty County’s schools as mentors in the near future.

MOM already mentors school-age students through a partnership with the Albany Recreation and Parks Department.

The focus now is on the annual Christmas luncheon that provides a meal and gifts.

This year’s Christmas event is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 20 at Driskell Park, and the offering won’t be just a hot dog and a bag of chips.

“Our main goal is to give them a meal, a full meal,” group member Fred Pickett said. “Just to see that kid eat and walk away with a bicycle … our giveaway actually is a lot of families’ (entire) Christmas. With the help of the Lord, we’ve been blessed.”

For Christmas 2023, MOM handed out 500 bicycles, and last year the tally was 300. This year, the group is looking to give away as many as possible. More than 2,000 families attended the luncheon last year.

The highlight is when the new bicycle owners take a ride in the park, but it’s more than just a gift. It’s about love, MOM member Kelvin Crawford said.

“I learned that when I have talked to some of these kinds in the gang groups,” he said. “They said, ‘I don’t have no love. That’s why I joined the gang.’ We try to give them the love they need.”

Men on a Mission plans to distribute as many bicycles as possible, group chairman Eric Green said.

“Our main focus for this is giving away bicycles,” he said. “We try to make sure every child gets something. We’ve seen kids that don’t have, and we do everything we can to put a smile on a child’s face.”

Among the sponsors in the past are Albany Mayor Bo Dorough and former Georgia Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, who have been supporters of the program. When the three MOM members made their pitch on Monday to the Dougherty County Commission, Chairman Lorenzo Heard handed over a cash donation.

Group members say they hope to extend MOM’s mentoring program into the school system in early 2026 or during the next school year, and has been discussing that move with school administration.

“It’s not just about giving bicycles,” Pickett said. “It’s giving to the community. It’s saying we can do something positive. We’re in the community every day. We’re working with the Recreation Department, we’re working with the county. We are visibly out there.”

Individuals who wish to inquire about donating a bicycle or giving a monetary donation can contact Green at (229) 854-0454.

“They don’t have to bring (bicycles) to us, we’ll pick them up,” he said.