The Sumter County Sheriff’s Bikes for Kids is an opportunity to help disadvantaged children and adults at Christmas time.
In The Villages this event has been supported by The Village Bicycle Club for more than a decade. The success of the bike drive has grown so large that this year they are joining forces with the Sumter Landing Bicycle Club.
If you have a bike you are no longer using and would like to donate to the program, drop off your bike to the Lake Miona Recreation Center between 8 a.m. and noon on Friday, Dec. 1.
Bicycles needing minor repairs can be accepted.
“Also, donating the helmet is great,” said this year’s bike drive chairman, Dave Lawrence. “Safety is our main concern.”
Bicycles are washed, tires pumped, test ridden, by experts such as former bicycle mechanics like Lawrence, assessed and then taken to the fix-it station for minor repairs and adjustments if necessary. Plenty of volunteers will be working in order to handle the number of expected bicycles.
These bicycles make wonderful presents for the children, and for the adults it can mean transportation to work. All bicycles are needed – men’s, women’s and children.
“Sometimes people remember not having a bike as a kid and they will purchase one and donate a brand new bike,” said Lawrence.
Limited volunteer assistance is available for those that are not able to get their bicycles to the recreation center.
For general information about the bike drive call Ed and Anne Hankwitz 352-753-2665 or email: [email protected].
If you would like to volunteer go to https://slbike.club.
To schedule a pick-up call Dave Lawrence, 352-702-6641 between Nov. 27 and 30 after noon or email [email protected].
The day of the event the number to call is 352-259-2611.