Anonymous donor aids disabled Fort Myers bell-ringer

Published:

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A disabled Salvation Army bell-ringer whose tricycle was stolen last week has a new ride, thanks to an anonymous donor.

The woman who footed a nearly $500 bill for Fort Myers resident Sonny Harris wouldn’t give her name, leaving only a simple message with Sherry Frederickson, a friend of Harris who fielded dozens of calls from people looking to help:

“Ride well.”

Harris was hit by a truck when he was growing up, so he can’t ride a two-wheeled bike or drive a car. He filed a police report when his only mode of transportation went missing but didn’t expect he’d be back on three wheels so soon.

“I’m going to ride wherever I can,” Harris said. “I’m just gonna cruise around because I miss it.”

Jefferson Jones, who built the new trike at Paradise Bicycles, said he got a kick out of working on the project.

“It’s just kind of cool,” Jones said. “It gives it a deeper meaning and puts more life into the build.”

Frederickson was moved by the outpouring of support. Many other WINK News viewers who saw the news about the theft donated gift cards, cash and groceries.

“With all the negativity going on, this was just wonderful,” Frederickson said.

 

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.