Holiday Bikes for Kids

Got an old child-sized bicycle taking up space in the garage? Unclutter your life and support a great cause: BikeAthens' popular Bike Recycling Program is gearing up for the seventh annual Holiday Bikes for Kids project!

Bicycle donations are requested, and volunteers are needed to clean and repair children's bikes for giveaway during the holidays.

The Holiday Bikes for Kids project seeks to provide a happy holiday season to underprivileged youth by providing them with a quality, fully refurbished bicycle. Through the program, volunteers clean, polish and tune up donated youth bicycles. The refurbished bikes are then donated to local agencies and schools for distribution. Last year, over fifty bicycles were presented to children in the Athens community!

Donations
To ensure that as many bicycles as possible reach local children in need, BikeAthens encourages the community to donate used children's bicycles, volunteer time, supplies, and money. More donated bicycles and volunteer hours mean more holiday wishes fulfilled! Supporters may also send in shop supplies, such as rags, all-purpose degreasers, very fine steel wool, paper towels, and bicycle lubricant. Cash donations allow for the purchase of needed parts and will offset the cost of the new helmets that are distributed with every bike. Individuals seeking to donate bicycles, supplies, or other gifts can stop by the shop Sundays 2-4 PM and Mondays and Wednesdays 6-8 PM or contact bicyclerecycling [at] bikeathens.com.

Volunteering
Volunteers will repair bicycles during regular shop hours (Sundays 2-4 PM and Mondays and Wednesdays 6-8 PM) until the week of Christmas. Individuals or groups who would like volunteer for the project can stop by the shop at these times or contact bicyclerecycling [at] bikeathens.com.

Directions
BikeAthens’ Bike Recycling Program repair shop is located in studio 6 of the Chase Street Warehouse (149 Oneta Street). The shop is open Sundays 2-4 PM and Mondays and Wednesdays 6-8 PM.

Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day), from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, BikeAthens will formally kick-off  the Holiday Bikes for Kids project at the Bike Recycling Program workshop.

Contact: Jason Perry & Mike Ely
bicyclerecycling [at] bikeathens.com

Update (Dec 22, 2009)
The board of BikeAthens sends its heartfelt thanks to the volunteers of the Holiday Bikes for Kids project. The effort was a resounding success having delivered 62 bicycles to children in Athens. Recipient organizations include Fowler Drive Elementary, Clarke Central Elementary, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Athens Area Homeless Shelter, Interfaith Hospitality Network and Athens Land Trust. The community's donation of used bicycles for the program to refurbish and reuse has been tremendous. We would especially like to acknowledge Jason Perry and Mike Ely for their extraordinary efforts in coordinating the volunteers and donations.

We have received great joy from the knowledge that our work will bring happiness to a child this season.

If you would like to become involved, please sign up to the bike recycling listserv via http://lists.bikeathens.com/mailman/listinfo/bikerecycling-list.

Pictures of work sessions and bicycle delivery are available at the bikeathens website: http://www.bikeathens.com/slideshows/index.html

Wishing you a very happy and healthy holiday season.

ps. The shop will take a brief hiatus until January. We will announce the shop schedule via the above list or our website.