Robin Ortiz, manager of Shopko Hometown in Toledo, presents a Shopko Foundation $1,000 check to Brody Hala, Grinnell Regional Medical Center Outlying Clinics supervisor, in support of GRMC’s Bike Helmet Program. For 20 years GRMC has led the effort which distributes bike helmets to all 3rd grade students in the service area. Chronicle/John Speer

Shopko’s grant helps pay the cost of bike helmets so that we can continue to give the students locally a helmet for free. We applied for this grant last November. We are very pleased to partner with our neighbor to support this safety program for children.

The GRMC Bike Helmet Program is unique in that it distributes a free bicycle helmet and safetyeducation to each program participant. Bike helmets are expensive, so it is often difficult to obtainfunding to keep programs like this free.

What also set this project apart are grant dollars and generous donations that have sustained the Bike Helmet Program for over 20 years. We plan to continue this program for the safety of our children in the communities we serve..

For the past 20 years, GRMC has provided all third-graders in the GRMC service area with a new fitted helmet to keep them safe. The program serves 12 schools and about 550 children. Each year, members of the GRMC staff and volunteers go to schools in six different counties to provide bike/wheel safety education and to provide each third grader with a helmet.

The school districts are South Tama, Meskwaki Settlement, BGM, Central Iowa Christian Academy, East Marshall, Green Mountain Garwin (GMG), Grinnell/Newburg, Lynnville/Sully, Montezuma, North Mahaska, Sully Christian and Victor (HLV).