Local boy’s efforts earn bicycles for needy children

December 21, 2006

By Brewer Turley The Times Enterprise Thu Dec 21, 2006, 11:34 PM EST

THOMASVILLE — Instead of compiling his own Christmas list, 11-year-old Austin Malloy decided to do something that would brighten the holidays for others.

After watching an episode of “Oprah” about charitable giving, Malloy, a sixth grader at Brookwood School, made up his mind to “pay it forward” — to do something special for people in need.

Using his own money, Malloy bought two new bicycles to give needy children at Christmas. Through a column he wrote for the Times-Enterprise, he encouraged others to join him in his cause. As a result, 20 new bikes were given to local families Thursday.

“People just started calling and bringing bikes to the house,” Malloy said. “I hope all of these bikes can go to needy children and kids that might not get everything for Christmas that they’d like to have.”

With the help of his mother Vickie, Malloy worked with the Thomas County Department of Family and Children’s Services to determine which needy families would get the bikes. The chosen families picked their bikes up Thursday at the Thomas County Jail-Justice Center.

Vickie Malloy said she was impressed with her son’s spirit of giving.

“He’s a very caring and giving child anyway, so I really wasn’t surprised. I just told him to think about what he wanted to do to pay it forward, and he decided to give bikes to needy children,” she said.

She was also impressed with the number of people who called to donate bikes and contributions toward helping needy children after Austin’s column ran in the newspaper. Austin said he hopes the idea of paying it forward continues to spread among area residents.

To contact reporter Brewer Turley, call (229) 226-2400, ext. 226.