Bicycle collection coasts to success

CLUB DONATES USED BIKES TO WORLDWIDE NONPROFIT

By Sara Poynor
Published May 12, 2012, in SoMdNews.com (Southern Maryland Newspapers Online) - The Independent
http://www.somdnews.com/stories/05122010/indytop173125_32265.shtml

WALDORF, MARYLAND - The Waldorf Kiwanis Club hosted its sixth annual bicycle collection drive Saturday at Calvary Gospel Church in Waldorf for Bikes for the World.

The nonprofit Bikes for the World is based in Arlington, Va., and collects unwanted bikes and sends them to other countries.

"It's a wonderful event that provides an opportunity for people to clean out their garages and make a significant impact on people in Third World countries," said Jerry Peuler, Kiwanis International trustee and member of the Waldorf club.

Waldorf resident Lynda McDonald dropped by to donate her daughter's first bicycle.

A couple of years ago, she was driving down Berry Road and saw the sign advertising the Kiwanis bicycle collection at the church.

"It's a very small thing that probably makes a big difference for someone," she said as her daughter carried the bicycle with training wheels to the Kiwanis Club members. "She's outgrown it. We've tried to make it a habit of ... donating things she has outgrown."

Although the number of bicycle donations was down from the normal 80 to 100 to about 35 to 40, the group collected more bicycle accessories such as helmets and seats, and one sewing machine, which was a first.

Normally, bicycles received have flat tires or a little bit of rust and Bikes for the World will fix them up or salvage the parts. However, this year, the Kiwanis Club received a couple of new bikes.

"Judging from the reaction from the Bicycles for the World representative, that [is] highly unusual for them," youth services Chairman Ron Litten said.

After the Kiwanis Club receives a bicycle, members prepare it for shipment by removing the pedals and lowering the seat and handlebars, he said.

Then Bikes for the World will pick them up and ship them to the Caribbean, South America, Central America or other Third World countries.

"Kids use them to ride to school and adults will use them to transport material and support their family," Litten said.

The bicycles help adults become self-sustaining and in some cases they might ride 10 to 12 miles one way to a job that pays probably $5 a day or so, Peuler added.

Peuler previously lived in Thailand where bikes were used to carry bamboo leaves and other materials, often items they were selling. Sometimes, he would see up to five people on one bike.

Shante Robinson, Key Club president at Maurice J. McDonough High School, heard about the event from the club's sponsor.

She also participated last year.

"It's a lot of fun, and I like doing things for people," she said. "I love that we help people instead of helping ourselves."

Robinson helped prepare bicycles for shipment. "Anything I can do, I'll do it," she said enthusiastically.

Litten believes the bikes collected Saturday will be shipped to Panama.

The Waldorf Kiwanis Club has been with Bikes for the World since its founding in 2005.