The Volunteer Homeland Reserve Unit, an organization made up entirely of ex-law enforcement officer volunteers, is trying to help those in need to get around town.

The VHRU recently got its new bike program off the kickstand by donating three two-wheelers to local agencies.

Frank Mauizio, squad leader, handed over a bike to Scarlett Patrick, specialty court coordinator, for the drug court program last Sunday morning.

The bikes are often the only transportation option for participants in drug court who are trying to turn their lives around and hold onto a job but who may have had a driver's license revoked.

Another bike was donated to the Juvenile Probation Office, and local resident Dwight Orendorff received the third bike.

But the program is just getting started, and the VHRU is actively seeking donations.

The unit takes just about any kind of bicycle, even if it needs some work.

"We'll take whatever we get, mountain bikes -- 10-speeds," Mauizio said. "We'll just take parts and use those if it's demolished."

The bikes that were recently donated actually came from the Nye County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Tony DeMeo said they were bikes that were found but never retrieved or bikes that had been released from evidence for quite some time.

"They were all town property, and some of them had been sitting around for years, so we were happy to donate them to the community," DeMeo said.

Ken Godwin, squad leader, was also excited about the program.

"We're glad that we can do this as an organization, and thanks to the community for participating," Godwin said.

The VHRU is a nonprofit volunteer group composed of retired law enforcement officers whose main purpose is to supplement various other agencies during emergency situations.

This includes volunteering to help law enforcement agencies in any way possible, from directing traffic and manning substations to coordinating communications so that more active-duty officers are available to handle a crisis.

But just because there isn't an immediate emergency doesn't mean the retirees are not active.

The VHRU undertakes several charity events throughout the year, including donating to a family every Christmas.

If you are interested in making a donation to the VHRU's bike program, contact Mauizio at (775) 209-5898.

General information about the VHRU can be found at the Web site, www.vhru.com.