The outSPOKEn Cyclist
By Diane Jenks
When you’re getting ready for winter, cleaning out your garage so that you can park your car inside, or cleaning up your basement so you can actually go down there and work out, are you finding any old bikes?
As a kid, didn’t you want a new bike for the holidays? And, how amazing was it when you got up on Christmas morning, or for one of your eight-days-of-Hannukah presents, you saw that shiny new bicycle?
Unfortunately, there are so many children who have never had that experience, and this is where your old bike can make a huge impact.
Regardless of the condition of the bike, there are several non-profit organizations that refurbish and distribute bikes for kids for the holidays. Volunteers will give each bike the TLC needed to make it shiny, safe, and ready for a child who might never have the opportunity to feel the freedom that two wheels can bring.
If you don’t have an old bike, consider making a donation to one of the charities listed below to help offset the price of parts that might be needed to rehab a donated bike. Your donation could also be used for a safety helmet, which is often presented to the child along with the bike.
If you want to become involved with any of the organizations that do this great work, you can also volunteer to help gather, repair, polish and distribute bikes. I know there are many charities to which you can direct your holiday giving so I hope you will consider this option for 2022 and beyond. Remember that your donation(s) will probably be tax-deductible, too.
Here is a list of local organizations that are getting ready to deliver “bikes for kids!”
Elves & More of NE Ohio – gives away 1600+ bikes per year. They may be done for 2022 but are already collecting bikes for the 2023 giveaway.
Free Bikes 4 Kidz is one of my favorite organizations. They are in many areas and are incredibly committed to the work.
Bikes For Kids Foundation – Here is what this nationwide program does: “Bikes for Kids is a two-year journey of building character and materializing dreams in our children. It begins with each third grade Title 1 child in our sponsored schools studying a book titled, Think Big – Work Hard – Be Kind – No Excuses. After three weeks of study and three weeks of challenge questions, they write an essay describing how those terms apply to their lives. Learning that nothing is given — everything is earned — they are told that the best three essay papers will be rewarded with a new bicycle. After all, working hard matters!”
Foster Love – Together We Rise works with kids in foster care. Here is an interview I did with Kate Koch who adopted her first child back in 2008 and became the “bike lady,” to the organization.