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 the firehouse isn’t really over — it’s just taking on a new form.
When Kirkland noticed that kids in underserved neighborhoods near the station were skipping school, he decided to do something about it. He didn’t use lectures or strict rules — instead, he used love, humor, and even a bike wrench to make an impact.
He launched the FITCH program — Firefighters/Paramedics In The Community Helping — after seeing more children hanging around the firehouse than attending classes. The idea was simple: bring your report card to the station, and if you have good grades and perfect attendance, you get a bike.
The program quickly gained traction. Bikes started pouring in — some brand new, others old or refurbished. They came in all colors and sizes, and the kids couldn’t wait to show up with their report cards. Attendance in nearby housing projects, which had once hovered around 20%, rose dramatically. Within eight months, it jumped by 45%, and within a year, it hit 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 even wrote about him 20 years ago, calling him the “Pied Piper†of the community due to how beloved he was among the kids.
The FITCH program became especially vital when the Chicago housing projects, like the Robert Taylor Homes and Ida B. Wells, were still standing. Back then, firefighters were serving thousands of people in just a few blocks, and many kids were left without much supervision. The bike program gave them a reason to stay in school and focus on their future.
Even after the projects were demolished, the program continued. Last month, the station gave away 70 bikes to students in some of the toughest neighborhoods on the West Side. Kirkland also took the program abroad — in 2010, he traveled to Haiti after a devastating earthquake, bringing medical supplies and bikes to help those in need.
“In Haiti, a bike was gold,†he said. “It was something they truly needed.â€
Kirkland recently retired at the age of 63, but he still visits the station to fix up bikes and spend time with the kids. He believes that bikes are more than just transportation — they’re a way to keep kids safe and focused on their education.
Now, in retirement, his reward is seeing the joy on a child’s face when they ride off with their new bike. “If you could see their faces when they walk out of here with a bike… it’s like sunshine. You can’t explain it — you have to be there to see it.â€
The station even offers a unique rental option: kids can rent a bike for just 25 cents a day, and when they return it, they get their quarter back. It’s a small gesture, but one that makes a big difference.
As Kirkland prepares to pass the torch, he’s looking for someone to take over the FITCH program he’s spent so many years building. For now, he knows his legacy will live on through every child who rides off with a bike and a brighter future.
Thanks, Dan.
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