For the eighth year running, Caddo District Attorney James E. Stewart Sr. has doffed his three-piece suit and donned a coat of red to play the role of Santa Claus to bring cheer and hope to parish students.
Kindergartners at North Caddo Elementary/Middle School were surprised as the curtain opened in their gymnasium auditorium Tuesday, December 19, 2023, to reveal 62 brand-new bicycles donated by Bally’s Shreveport Casino and Hotel and a handful of other local boosters. Bally’s General Manager Chip Bunyard was with DA Stewart and Principal Nicolas Cunningham to make the reveal.
“I’m one of those people who believes that Christmas is for kids,” D.A. Stewart told the crowd of students and teachers and staff. “I know everybody’s got all those electric toys and stuff, but there’s nothing like a bicycle. We want to share our love and recognize this part of the parish. This is just a special treat, to know that you’ve been good boys and girls the first half of the year. But don’t let the Grinch come get it the second half of the year because you’ve been acting bad. Be good the whole year!”
Principal Cunningham voiced his thanks.
“We really are thankful,” he said, speaking for himself and the students. “I can see it in their faces, that they are looking forward to grabbing that bike and rolling on down the road.”
Older students not getting bikes also shared the holiday spirit.
“I feel great about it,” said eighth-grader Kelsey Quinnett, whose younger brother Alexander Shrotland was one of the lucky kindergartners getting a bike. “A lot of parents can’t afford gifts for their kids. This helps out parents who may not be able to afford things for Christmas.”
Bally’s General Manager Chip Bunyard, District Attorney James E. Stewart Sr. and Principal Nicolas Cunningham show gift bikes to kindergartners Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
Brand-new Christmas bikes, 62 in all, await gifting to kindergartners at North Caddo Elementary/Middle School Tuesday, December 19, 2023.
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