From wgntv.com:
After spending nearly three decades as a firefighter in Chicago, Kirkland Flowers is stepping down from his official duties, but his mission continues. Even though his time at the station has officially ended, his commitment to helping young people remains stronger than ever.
Kirkland noticed that children near the firehouse, particularly those living in underprivileged areas of Chicago, were frequently missing school. Determined to make a difference, he devised an innovative way to encourage them to attend classes—using love, humor, and a wrench to fix bikes.
Inspired by the number of kids lingering around the firehouse instead of being in class, Kirkland launched the FITCH program (Firefighters/Paramedics In The Community Helping) at Engine 16, located near 39th and Wabash. The concept was simple yet impactful: bring your report card to the firehouse, and if it showed good grades or perfect attendance, you’d receive a bike.
Word spread quickly, and soon, the program began receiving donated bikes of all kinds—new, old, and refurbished models in every color imaginable. The kids eagerly brought their report cards to Engine 16, especially when attendance rates in nearby housing projects hovered at a disheartening 20%. Within just eight months, attendance improved by 45%, and within a year, it soared to 92%. This remarkable transformation happened at just one school more than 25 years ago.
Encouraged by the success, Kirkland expanded the FITCH program to other low-income schools. Over the years, Engine 16 has distributed hundreds of thousands of bikes. Time Magazine even highlighted his efforts two decades ago, referring to him as the modern-day Pied Piper for the joy he brings to the children he serves.
During the height of the challenges faced by communities like the Robert Taylor Homes and Ida B. Wells, where Engine 16 once served over 11,000 residents in a small area, the bike program became even more crucial. Left largely to their own devices, many kids found themselves in difficult situations. Kirkland insists that the program works because it rewards academic effort and discipline—kids must earn their bikes by staying in school.
Just last month, the station handed out 70 bikes to fourth through eighth graders in some of the toughest neighborhoods on Chicago's West Side. In 2010, Kirkland also traveled to Haiti following a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake. Alongside six other firefighters, he transported three ambulances filled with medical supplies and bikes to aid the struggling nation. There, he noted that a bike was considered invaluable—"truly gold."
At 63, Kirkland recently retired from the fire department. Yet, he still visits the station to work on tools and repair bikes. For him, bikes symbolize a pathway to safety and opportunity for kids growing up in dangerous urban environments. Now, in retirement, his greatest reward comes from seeing the smiles on the faces of children riding off on their newly acquired bikes.
“When you see their faces light up as they leave with their bikes… it’s like sunshine. It’s something you can’t fully describe unless you’ve witnessed it,†Kirkland shares.
Engine 16 also offers rental options for kids who need temporary access to a bike, charging only 25 cents per day. When the bike is returned, the child gets their quarter back—a small gesture that fosters trust and responsibility.
As Kirkland looks toward the future, he’s preparing to pass the torch to someone else who can continue nurturing and expanding the bike program he’s built over the years. It’s clear that his legacy will endure long after he steps aside.
Thanks, Dan!
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