Voices for a Healthy Southcoast sponsored a Bike Helmet giveaway in November that saw 12 helmets donated to area youths.

Lauren Roderigues, the Youth Wellness Educator for Southcoast Healthy Housing and Workplace Initiative, secured a $250 grant from AAA Southern New England Safety Officer John Paul.

Roderigues passed out bike safety brochures and bike helmets a few months after holding a bike Safety Day in July. This Bike Safety Day was to educate the children of Woods of Wareham on how to safely ride on the roads and how to correctly ride their bike.

It was after the safety day that Roderigues noticed that most of the children did not have bike helmets. With the help of AAA and Yesteryear Cycling in New Bedford, she secured the 12 helmets.

The Southcoast Healthy Housing and Workplace Initiative and Voices for a Healthy Southcoast are non-profits working to increase opportunities for good health and to decrease the opportunities for smoking and unhealthy choices. By giving back to the community and giving out the helmets to the children, these organizations were able to educate the community on how to be a “breathe better community”.

During the event Roderigues noticed the joy that it brought to the children.

"One child asked, 'Can you take a picture of my family while I wear my bike helmet?,'" said Roderigues.