Christmas Comes Early in Kensett

The Clauses are already here, but it's the fire department that’s passing out presents.  “Wanted something that was going to help kids as far as giving them a safety,” said Olson.

When they qualified for a $1500 Iowa Department of Public Health grant earlier in the year they decided to use it to buy all 59 kids in the area brand new bike helmets.

But you could argue that the helmets are almost as much a gift for mom and dad as they are for the kids. “I thought it was pretty neat that Kensett got this grant and they could give the kids free helmets so they were safer riding bike around town,” said Carrie Orth, a parent whose seven-year-old son was excited about picking out a helmet.

And even though this is hardly peak biking season, they’re hoping this gift isn’t one quickly forgotten.  “Broken bones, broken legs, broken arms, even though they're serious can be fixed,” said Ron Schacht, of the Kensett Fire Department. “But a serious head injury is something that you may not be able to repair…..We hope that when we give the helmets away that we'll see them riding around next summer with the helmets on.”