More than 1,000 toys and bikes were distributed to 50 families at the Liberty County Bikes for Christmas event on Saturday at the Dayton Community Center. In addition to the gifts, children were provided with new warm winter coats and all the essentials for a Christmas dinner with their families.
The organization, in its 15th year, was founded by Liberty County EMS Director Mike Koen and David Milam, owner of Milam Tire and Auto in Liberty. This year, Milam’s wife, Cassie, took over coordination of the event, helped by a host of volunteers and supporters.
“So much preparation goes into this event. The only drawback to being the coordinator is not being able to see everything as it’s happening. I think it went well though. Almost every family that was signed up came to the event. Those who didn’t had valid reasons,” Cassie said. “This year was so much better than last year. Instead of just giving them their things, they were treated to a good time with their families.”
Organizers avoided the mad rush of the event by staging times the families should arrive. There was no queuing up in lines to get into the community center. Families simply checked in and walked into Candy Cane Lane,an area organized by Dayton Police Dispatcher Tammy Alexander. Inside Candy Cane Lane were booths for face painting, cookie decorating, balloon gingerbread men and other fun crafts.
“If there were any families this year who had been there before, they probably noticed a big difference and had more fun. We wanted them to feel the warmth of Christmas and people coming together to help them out,” Cassie said.
Every member of the families selected for the program this year received presents.
“One of the most heartbreaking stories of the day was a family who was nominated at the last minute. The mom had four kids, but she didn’t ask for gifts for all of them because she thought it was too much to ask. The only thing they asked for was clothes,” Cassie said. “We were able to help out all of the children by providing them with jackets and presents.”
The event would not have been possible without the support of the following sponsors: Diamond level – PLC Construction, Inc.; Platinum level – Huntsman, TGCI – Houston, Anthony and Stephanie Milam, Liberty Walmart,Walmart Foundation, Charles Jennette, Milam Tire and Auto, and Liberty County EMS.
Community sponsors included Warden Stacey LeBlanc & Staff of TDCJ L.V. Hightower Unit, City of Dayton – Dayton Community Center, Liberty Walmart, Liberty Brookshire Brothers, MCJROTC Bronco Battalion, Casa Don Boni and Awards & Engraving.
Amanda Wilson (left) and Liberty County Judge Jay Knight help children with holiday crafts at Saturday’s Liberty County Bikes for Christmas event at the Dayton Community Center. 
David Milam, one of the founders of Liberty County Bikes for Christmas, still believes in Santa. At the Bikes for Christmas event on Saturday at the Dayton Community Center, he took advantage of the opportunity to sit in Santa’s lap. Brad Harrington of KSHN-FM was this year’s Santa Claus. 
Liberty County Bikes for Christmas organizer Cassie Milam got her Christmas wish from Santa on Saturday with the successful completion of this year’s event. Brad Harrington of KSHN-FM was this year’s Santa Claus. 
Cadets from Dayton High School’s Marine JROTC program help distribute gift bags to children at Liberty County Bikes for Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Dayton Community Center. Pictured are Logan Snapp, Mary Cook, Alex Brooks, Toni Vargas, Chloe kerley, Tristan Robinson, Hailie Ryan and Enrique Garcia. 
A host of volunteers and supporters turned out Saturday to help with Liberty County Bikes for Christmas’s event at the Dayton Community Center. Pictured left to right are Dayton Police Capt. John Coleman, Kevin McCrory, Winn Skidmore, Pct. 4 Commissioner Leon Wilson and Toby Wilburn. 
Cassie Milam (second from the left) checks in at the sign-in tables set up in the entrance of the Dayton Community Center for the Liberty County Bikes for Christmas event on Saturday. 
Pct. 4 Constable Robby Thornton (second from left) brought along three deputies for the Liberty County Bikes for Christmas event on Saturday at the Dayton Community Center. Thornton handed out candy canes and greeted children as they arrived to collect their presents. Pictured with Thornton are Deputy Constables Tyree Beals, Eugene Wilson and Donald Lawrence. 
John Thomas with Liberty Fire Department and Nathaniel Brewer and Jarred Murray with HWY 321 VFD show Shane Bailey (center) the Jaws of Life extrication devices they use to rip open vehicles and save victims in car crashes. 
Children at the Liberty County Bikes for Christmas event on Saturday, Dec. 15, enjoyed visiting with firefighters and police officers. Representing Liberty Fire Department were Delbert Manning, Robert Edmunds, Weldon Simons, John Thomas, Christopher Watson and Jeff Hellyer. The children pictured are Levi Hellyer and Brailon Landers. 
Candace Miller applies a Christmas design to the face of Jimmy Bradley while his brother, Jaden, waits for his turn. 
Gerardo Ortega, 5, gets a little help from his big sister, Alicia Ortega, 10, at the cookie-decorating table at Liberty County Bikes for Christmas on Saturday at the Dayton Community Center. 
Siblings Kiona, Latasia and Noah Lawson ride away on the bikes they received Saturday at the Liberty County Bikes for Christmas event on Saturday at the Dayton Community Center. 
How many people does it take to fix one remote-controlled ambulance? More than three or at least one who knows how to fix it. Despite their best efforts, Liberty County EMS Director Mike Koen, David Milam and Liberty Firefighter Delbert Manning could not get the ambulance to work. 
The Lewis family leaves the Dayton Community Center Saturday with gifts and bikes for the family’s six children. Pictured are Sherman and Miranda Lewis and their children, Landon, Ammon, Walter, Morgan, Aiden and Marie. 
Cadets with Dayton High School’s Marine JROTC held load the Lewis family’s van after the Liberty County Bikes for Christmas event on Saturday at the Dayton Community Center.