PANAMA CITY – “Salvage Santa” is working hard to bring Christmas cheer to underprivileged Bay County children again this year.
Mike Jones, Bay District schools safety and security chief, has repaired used bikes and toys in his spare time year-round for 31 years to be distributed to local charities and individuals at Christmas.
“We go right up to Christmas Day. If someone calls on Christmas Eve, we’ll take care of them,” Jones said.
» HOW YOU CAN HELP: For details on donating, call Mike Jones at 850-832-2976.
Jones said his goal this year is to refurbish 200 bikes in time for Christmas and was already up to about 170 before Thanksgiving, he said.
“I take a whole week off at Thanksgiving,” he said.
During those nine days, Jones usually can repair five bikes a day. The bikes will be distributed throughout the community with the help of local organizations like Glenwood Community Center and Early Education and Care.
Jones started fixing up bikes and toys “in ’83 or so,” when he was working part-time security at Sears and saw several unsold toys being destroyed. Realizing what a waste that was, Jones started taking the toys himself to fix up and donate.
“It makes a lot of children smile at Christmas time,” said Quillar Ceasar-Herbert, a representative from the Panama City Department of Leisure Services and Glenwood Community Center, which distributes bikes and toys to local children at Christmas.
Ceasar-Herbert said Jones has been providing anywhere from 100 to 150 bikes to the center every day for eight years.
“He always accommodates more than enough,” she said.
While the bikes themselves are donated, Jones usually pays for repairs himself. The endeavor often costs a few thousand dollars every year, but his wife, Colleen Jones, is “very lenient” about it and the expenses often are mitigated by monetary donations from the public.
“This is what I do. This is what I like to do,” he said.
Colleen Jones helps the cause, as well, repairing dolls that are donated to the couple. Aside from bikes, Jones said he gets the most requests for children’s books and board games at Christmas time.
Jones welcomes donations year-round and not just bikes. New toys are also accepted, as well as books, board games, spray paint, steel wool and other repair supplies.
“Salvage Santa would not exist without the community,” Jones said.
To make a donation, contact Jones at 850-832-2976.