By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Oak Mountain State Fair will offer free and reduced admission charges on April 28 to visitors who help out those in need.

From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the fair will offer $1 admission to each person who donates two canned goods or two boxes of dry goods. Families who donate a new child’s bicycle will receive free admission to the fair.

The program is the result of a partnership between the Pelham Police Department, the Oak Mountain State Fair and the Salvation Army. The canned food donations will help those struggling in today’s economy, said Pelham Police Department executive assistant Jennifer Smith.

“With the economy in the shape it’s in, there are a lot of folks in need,” Smith said. “We thought this would be one of the easier ways to help out.”

Smith said the agencies decided to include the bicycle drive to help the Salvation Army start stocking up for Christmas.

“It’s never too early to start preparing,” Smith said. “Bikes are always a hot item that are hard to come by around Christmas.”

The Oak Mountain State Fair is being held through April 29 at the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham.