The Bill McDonald Scholarship Fund Committee donated $4,000 to local charities to benefit children this holiday season. Hickory Fire Department’s Bikes for Tykes program and Hickory Police Department’s Cops for Tots program each received a $2,000 donation. This is the seventh year in a row that the fund has supported these two charitable programs. Each year, Hickory Fire Department collects new and gently used bicycles and tricycles for local underprivileged kids through its Bikes for Tykes program. The money provided by the Bill McDonald Scholarship Fund will enable the program to purchase more than 50 new bicycles for children that live in Hickory. These bikes, along with others donated by the community, will be distributed to local families through the Catawba County Christmas Bureau, United Way, and other local programs.