Minus a dozen plastic trikes and a wooden ride-on after a theft last weekend, the Forth St centre was now the proud owner of 21 donated plastic trikes and three wooden ride-ons after publicity about its plight.
"It is good. I went slow down the hill because I don't want to crash the new bike," Oliver Hobbs said yesterday.
Warwick Reid, of Dunedin Valuations, said the company felt moved to donate eight replacement trikes after reading of the theft.
"It was a pretty rotten thing to do before Christmas, and these kids deserve better than that."
Also donating trikes was EPI Plastics, with the Dunedin-based company donating six of its "dune buggy" models it sells throughout the country.
"I can understand why someone would want them at this time of the year, but it is so mean to steal them from these little kids," managing director Norman Wood said.
And the gifts kept on coming for the centre, with Kmart and The Warehouse donating two apiece, parents another two, and Cutlers real estate agent Gabby Morris giving a donation to buy three wooden ride-ons.
Centre manager Glenis Whipp, who is due to retire next week, said the donations were the highlight of her 47 years as an early childhood educator.
"The generosity of the public has been amazing - a real Christmas spirit at a special time of the year."
