Of interest … Kirkland Flowers
Excerpts from wgntv.com:
After 27 years of service, a Chicago firefighter is finally hanging up his gear and retiring. But for Kirkland Flowers, the work at Engine 16 Fire Station is far from over.
When he noticed that children in underserved neighborhoods near the station were skipping school, Kirkland decided to take action. He used a mix of kindness, humor, and even a bike wrench to make an impact.
In the late 1990s, he launched the FITCH program—short for Firefighters/Paramedics In The Community Helping. The idea was simple: kids who brought their report cards with good grades and perfect attendance would receive a bicycle.
The program quickly gained traction. Bikes came in from all over—new, used, and refurbished. They arrived in every color and size, creating excitement among the students.
Attendance rates in nearby schools skyrocketed. Within just eight months, it went up by 45%, and after a year, it reached 92%. This success led Kirkland to expand the program to other schools across Chicago.
Over the years, the station has given out hundreds of thousands of bikes. Time Magazine once called him the "Pied Piper" of the community, highlighting how beloved he is by the kids he helps.
During the time when the Robert Taylor Homes and Ida B. Wells housing projects were still standing, the FITCH program became even more vital. With thousands of residents living in a small area, many kids were left without guidance. Kirkland’s program gave them something to strive for—education and a bike.
Even after the projects were demolished, the program continued to thrive. Last month alone, the station handed out 70 bikes to students in some of the city's toughest neighborhoods on the West Side.
In 2010, Kirkland traveled to Haiti after a devastating earthquake. Alongside six other firefighters, he helped transport medical supplies and bikes to the disaster zone. There, he said, a bike was “gold†— a symbol of hope and mobility in a place where resources were scarce.
At 63, Kirkland recently retired from the fire department. But he still visits the station regularly, fixing tools and tuning up bikes. He believes that giving kids a bike can help keep them away from the dangers of the streets.
His reward now is seeing the joy on a child’s face as they ride off with their new bike. “It’s like sunshine,†he says. “You can’t explain it unless you’re here to see it.â€
The station also offers a bike rental program, allowing kids to rent a bike for just 25 cents a day. When they return it, they get their quarter back—another way to encourage responsibility and access.
Kirkland is now looking for someone to take over the FITCH program. He wants to ensure that this meaningful initiative continues to inspire and support the next generation of Chicago youth.
Thanks, Dan
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