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Kids receive bikes from Effingham County Santa (Sheriff’s) Office
Kids with bikes from ECSO
Alquram Albright, 3, of Springfield; Kobe Frazier, 4, of Rincon; and Christopher Goldwire, 3, of Springfield, all received the bikes they wanted – especially Spiderman. Picture in back, from left, are: Alonzo Newson, Jawanna Rhett, ECSO PIO Brian Bailey, Kimberly Sheppard, and Donna Goldwire. (Photos by Barbara Augsdorfer/Effingham Herald.)

By Barbara Augsdorfer, editor for the Effingham Herald

The “S” in ECSO could have easily stood for “Santa” as the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office gifted new bicycles and toys to kids Thursday afternoon.

Since the older kids were in school, parents picked up the bikes for them.

All their parents had to do was sign up on the new ECSO app and names were drawn for the bikes.

The app went live in October, and once downloaded to a cell phone, it notifies the user of travel advisories, vehicle accidents, news, and weather alerts from ECSO, among other tasks, such as submitting a tip to help solve a crime.

Bikes, toys, and holiday food items were donated to ECSO from members of the community.

According to an ECSO spokesperson, “The community, as always, stepped up in a big way to help bring joy to some families just in time for Christmas.” The 26 bikes, toys, and food items were given away Dec. 19.