Greater Grace Temple, Meijer, and the UAW Provide FREE bikes to Detroit children in need

Dec. 14, 2010 - PRLog -- (Detroit)  –  It’s a fact with the current economy that some financially-strapped  families could face a Christmas with few or even “no” gifts under the tree.  Yet, Greater Grace Temple, Meijer, The UAW and the Detroit Tigers mascot PAWS will bring smiles to hundreds of youngsters this year with its annual “Christmas Bike Giveaway.”

   Two-hundred brand new bicycles will be given to children from low-income families on Sunday, December 19, 2010.  The giveaway will begin after the 10:00 a.m. service (approx. 12:30 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.).   Applications for the bikes became available on Nov. 28th and had to be returned by December 8th.  All recipients will be notified by December 14th.  Greater Grace Temple’s non-profit, Master’s Commission, partnered with Meijer and the UAW to make the giveaway possible.
 
   “For many people, one of their fondest childhood memories was to receive a brand new bicycle on Christmas morning,” says GGT’s Senior Pastor Bishop Charles H. Ellis III.  “We want to do something to help those youngsters whose families are hit hard by this economy and could face having little or nothing under the tree on Christmas Day.”  
   The Bike Giveaway rules consists of but are not limited to the following:
•   The bikes will be given away at the end of the GGT Christmas Service on Sunday, December 19th at 10am.  To receive their bikes, parents and their child MUST attend this service.  NO EXCEPTIONS.
•   The giveaway will begin approximately at 12:30 p.m.
•   If someone has received a bike for any member of their family over the last five years, they are ineligible for this giveaway.  No exceptions.

Greater Grace Temple is located at 23500 W. Seven Mile Road in Detroit, MI.  For more information visit greatergrace.org or call 313-543-6000.

Editors:  Please note the following:
•   The Morning Worship Service begins at 10am and ends around 12 noon.  
•   The bike giveaway will begin immediately following the service
•   Still and video photography is welcomed inside the worship service as well as during the bicycle giveaway.
•   Professionally shot pictures and Beta SP video of past bicycle giveaways are also available upon request for any preview stories.

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Greater Grace Temple is the largest church located inside the Detroit city limits. The church was founded in 1927 with only three members. Today there are over 6,000.

The church has long been a spiritual pillar of the city, as well as an influential part of the civic community with continued efforts and outreaches to make Detroit a better place. Its new 35-million dollar facility anchors the site known as “The City of David,” a 19-acre campus in NW Detroit. Ellis Manor, an 89-unit apartment complex for seniors built by the church, also sits on the site. In 2007, the church purchased the historic 18-hole New Rogell Golf Course which was featured in Golfweek and Golf World magazines.

Greater Grace Temple has served as host to many pivotal community events, including the funeral Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks.

The pastor is Bishop Charles H. Ellis III who is also the new Presiding Bishop of the 1.3 million member Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.