CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, the sixth Bike Angels bike giveaway, spearheaded by founder Candy Alcott, was held at Tatonka Trading in Clearlake for the Sulphur fire survivors.

A bald eagle soared overhead as Alcott introduced herself to the crowd of about 180 people. The eagle was perhaps a good omen for people who have suffered enough hardship.

Alcott, a retired teacher in the Lancaster school district, was moved by the stories of the 2015 Valley fire.

She collected 25 bikes and hauled them from Lancaster to Middletown for the Valley fire survivors. However, there were more survivors who showed up for the giveaway than bikes.

Eight-year-old Mizriam Perez was next in line at that first giveaway, but all bikes had been given.

Alcott’s heart broke at his disappointment. She promised him she would return with more bikes.

When she found out that Mizriam’s birthday was on Christmas Day, Alcott returned for a Christmas giveaway where Mizriam received the first out of 500 bikes donated.

Now an 11 year old, Mizriam is a volunteer Bike Angel, helping other fire survivors.

Little Tatiana Jones, accompanied by her uncle Steven Loudermilk, received a new tricycle at  Bike Angels United’s sixth bike giveaway on Saturday, January 20, 2018, in Clearlake, Calif. Photo by Lucy Llewellyn Byard.

It was a carnival-like atmosphere on Saturday in Tatonka Trading’s parking lot, with rows of 160 bikes and tables of helmets, including 75 donated by the Middletown Rotary Club and Livermore Police Officer Rich Hill. Tents and tables were donated by Twin Pines Casino.

Beanie hats made by a team of four volunteers, directed by Gail Chaney, were “handmade straight from the heart,” she said.

Live oak trees were donated by Jonsteen Trees to adult survivors. A woman whose house burned in the Valley fire collected seeds from the ash in her driveway. From that ash, the 2-year-old saplings were grown and given away.

Cookies and water and thanks to the first responders filled other tables.

Ana Virgil’s family of four each received new bikes. They lost their house and are in the process of rebuilding while staying with friends in Clearlake.

Little Tatiana Jones, accompanied by her uncle, received a new tricycle.

Four eighth grade school girls and one high school student from Roseville are an example of what Alcott calls the “snowball of love.”

They made the bike giveaway their Destination Imagination community service project, dubbing their group “Team OMG!” after seeing Alcott on local news. They raised money for 50 bikes.

“My team chose to join Candy Alcott in her movement because we knew that bikes were not only transportation but entertainment for those who lost everything,” said team member Jolie Anderson.

Felicia Cooper’s three sons, Ignacio Duncan, 13, Immanuel Duncan, 11, and Hawk Duncan, 4, became Bike Angels when they decided to give away some of their toys and clothes items on the corner of their street in Nice right before Christmas.

Ignacio and his brothers approached their mother saying, “We have too many things when fire victims have nothing. Christmas is about giving and not all about receiving.”

Like many recipients of bikes, the boys’ story was shared on Alcott’s Facebook page, the main source of spreading the Bike Angel’s story. Each boy received a bike on Saturday.

Donations came from all over. Marin Fire Department donated funds for 16 adult bikes that were given to survivors who were able to show up to the giveaway. Memory bikes were donated in names of loved ones.

In total, 130 bikes were donated and given to survivors, and to the public.

American Ruckus creator and host Christopher Watson collected 37 bikes from Grass Valley to Sacramento.

“I believe in humanity and the amazing bicycle community that has come together to help the fire victims. It’s a pleasure to know that people who have lost everything will now have transport and entertainment simply from a donated bicycle,” Watson said.

Clearlake Mayor Bruno Sabatier said of the Bike Angels Giveaway, “Candy and her Bike Angel volunteers came to support Clearlake's loss from the Sulphur fire, it was a real treat for those who lost so much. Her generosity and compassion for our community is second to none.”

The love keeps snowballing.

Lucy Llewellyn Byard is a Lake County News correspondent. She lives in Lucerne with her best buddy, Toby the Rhodesian Ridgeback.