Teen who runs a mile to volunteer as a firefighter gifted brand-new bike

1 month ago 7

TONIGHT FROM PLUM. 17 YEAR OLD ELIJAH MENDEZ JOINED THE TRENTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT SIX MONTHS AGO, AND HE HAS MADE IT HIS MISSION TO GET HERE FOR EVERY FIRE CALL. BUT THAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE. TODAY, THOUGH, THAT ALL CHANGED WITH THE HELP OF THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE STUFF. A STORE, GOT A BICYCLE SHOP AND SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT FRIENDS. THIS IS HOW YOU’RE GOING TO GET THE FIRES FROM NOW ON. WOW. THAT IS AWESOME. STANDING BEFORE THE BRAND NEW BICYCLE, ELIJAH MENDEZ IS STUNNED. JUST OVERWHELMED. IT’S AWESOME AND GRATEFUL. THIS BIKE WITH A FEW EXTRA FEATURES WILL MAKE RESPONDING TO FIRES A BIT EASIER FOR THE PLUM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. HE ACTUALLY RUNS HERE IN WORK BOOTS, RUNS A MILE FROM HIS HOME TO HOP ONTO THE FIRE TRUCK TO HEAD TO CALLS. TRENTON FIRE CHIEF CORY COLE SAYS THE TEENAGER’S DEDICATION TO VOLUNTEERING IS WHY THIS GROUP KNEW THEY NEEDED TO HELP STUFF. A STORE BROUGHT IN THE FIRST $200. WELL IT’S CHRISTMAS. WE TRY OUR BEST TO HELP WITH THE COMMUNITY. GATTO CYCLE SHOP PITCHED IN TOO. THEN ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES STOOD UP AND MATCHED IT. LOST MY MOTHER ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. MY MOTHER WAS A VERY GIVING PERSON, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A WAY TO EXTEND HER LEGACY OF HELPING OUT PEOPLE IN NEED. THIS BRAND NEW BIKE, BOUGHT BY STRANGERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STUFF. A STORE WHOSE MOTTO IS KIDS, COPS AND COMMUNITY, WAS A GROUP EFFORT TO DO GOOD FOR A TEEN WHO ALREADY IS. I JUST WANT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN ME AND SHOW PEOPLE THAT THERE IS STILL GOOD IN THE WORLD. STUFF A STORE WHO ORGANIZED THIS BIKE DONATION ACCEPTS DONATIONS EVERY YEAR BETWEEN OCTOBER AND DECEMBER, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT HANDS THEM OUT. PERSONALLY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP, WE HAVE INFORMATION AT WTAE.COM.

Teen who runs a mile to volunteer as a firefighter gifted a brand-new bike

Elijah Mendez, 17, began running a mile to Plum's Renton Volunteer Fire Department six months ago when he started volunteering as a firefighter. Fire Chief Corey Cole said that, at times, the Plum High School student rode a broken bicycle.A Plum police officer found out about Mendez's challenge and contacted Stuff a Store, which donated $200 and then made it its mission to find more money to buy Mendez a bike. Gatto Cycle Shop pitched in, and one of its employees, Will Ryan, matched it."I lost my mother about a year ago, a little over a year ago. My mother was a very giving person, and I just thought it was a way to extend her legacy of helping out people in need," said Ryan.Mendez was surprised with the bike Thursday, surrounded by the organizers of Stuff a Store, several law enforcement officers and his family. "I just want to be a part of something greater than me and show people that there is still good in the world," said Mendez.Stuff a Store, whose motto is "Kids, Cops, and Community," takes donations from October to December every year and law enforcement hand-delivers the donations. If you would like to help in the future, click here.

PLUM, Pa. —

A Plum police officer found out about Mendez's challenge and contacted Stuff a Store, which donated $200 and then made it its mission to find more money to buy Mendez a bike.

Gatto Cycle Shop pitched in, and one of its employees, Will Ryan, matched it.

"I lost my mother about a year ago, a little over a year ago. My mother was a very giving person, and I just thought it was a way to extend her legacy of helping out people in need," said Ryan.

Mendez was surprised with the bike Thursday, surrounded by the organizers of Stuff a Store, several law enforcement officers and his family.

"I just want to be a part of something greater than me and show people that there is still good in the world," said Mendez.

Stuff a Store, whose motto is "Kids, Cops, and Community," takes donations from October to December every year and law enforcement hand-delivers the donations.

If you would like to help in the future, click here.

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