NEWARK, OHIO Secret Santa gives poor kids a set of wheels

Kenny Johnson fixes up old bikes and delivers most of them on Christmas Eve.
NEWARK, Ohio (AP) -- With stacks of old bicycles waiting to be repaired outside his workshop and a Christmas deadline approaching, Kenny Johnson can relate to Santa's elves.
Many families in Johnson's neighborhood can't afford to buy their children bicycles for Christmas. So for the past four years, the 51-year-old school custodian has repaired old bicycles to give to needy children.
"Kids here don't care what bikes look like," said Johnson, who dubbed his mission Kenny's Kids. "They just want their own."
During the holiday season Johnson's mailbox and answering machine are filled with requests from charities and parents. This year he has 80 children on his list, up from 60 last Christmas.
"I'm just here to make 'em happy and keep 'em out of trouble," said Johnson, whose size and rosy cheeks give him a Santa-like quality.
Johnson received 75 used bicycles from a bike shop and money from students and teachers at Newark High School.
"Some people bring these bikes in, and they're just too expensive to fix," said English teacher Ryan Rish, whose friend owns the bike shop. "But Kenny can cobble together these bikes and make them work."
With his list ready and his truck loaded, Johnson stealthily delivers most of the bikes to families on Christmas Eve. He tries to keep the bikes and where they come from a secret.
"Kids don't need to know who I am," Johnson said.