Of interest … Kirkland Flowers

Excerpts from wgntv.com:

After 27 years of service, a Chicago firefighter is finally hanging up his helmet and retiring. But for Kirkland Flowers, this isn’t the end of his work—it’s just a new chapter. While his official duties have come to a close, he continues to inspire and support the community in his own unique way.

When Kirkland noticed that children from nearby underserved neighborhoods were skipping school, he decided to take action. He didn’t just use words—he used love, humor, and even a bike wrench to make a real difference. His solution? A simple yet powerful idea: offer a bicycle in exchange for good grades and consistent attendance.

This initiative led to the creation of the FITCH program, which stands for Firefighters/Paramedics In The Community Helping. The concept was straightforward: bring your report card to the firehouse, and if it shows good grades and perfect attendance, you get a bike. It wasn’t long before the program took off.

Bikes started coming in from all over—new, used, and refurbished. They arrived in every color and size, and kids would rush to Engine 16 with their report cards. Attendance at the local school, which had been as low as 20%, jumped by 45% within eight months and reached an impressive 92% within a year. This success sparked a movement.

Over the years, the FITCH program expanded beyond one school. Kirkland brought it to other struggling neighborhoods, and the station has since given out hundreds of thousands of bikes. Time Magazine even recognized him two decades ago, calling him the “Pied Piper” of the community due to the deep connection he built with the kids.

The program was especially vital during the time when the Chicago housing projects, such as Robert Taylor Homes and Ida B. Wells, were still standing. At that time, firefighters were working in high-density areas with thousands of residents, many of whom were left without much supervision. Kirkland saw the need and filled the gap with bikes and hope.

Even after the projects were demolished, the FITCH program continued to thrive. Just last month, the station handed out 70 bikes to students in some of the toughest neighborhoods on the West Side. And the impact is still strong today.

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, a bicycle was more than just transportation—it was a symbol of hope and survival.

At 63, Kirkland recently retired from the fire department. But he still visits the station, where he tinkers with tools and gives bikes a little tune-up. He believes that bicycles can be a lifeline for kids living in dangerous areas, offering them a chance to stay focused on school and away from trouble.

Now in retirement, Kirkland finds his greatest reward in the faces of the children who ride off with their new bikes. “You see their joy—it’s like sunshine,” he says. “It’s something you just have to experience to understand.”

The station also offers a bike rental program. 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 investment with a big impact.

Kirkland is now looking for someone to take over the FITCH program, passing the torch to the next generation of community leaders. For him, the mission is far from over.

Thanks, Dan

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