Thanks to the many bicycles donated by Villagers, along with the work of volunteers from the Sumter Landing Bicycle Club and the Village Bicycle Club, returning the bicycles to pristine condition, 250 bicycles will be available to donate to needy adults and children this holiday season through the Sumter County Sheriff’s Bikes for Kids program.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office picked up bicycles before the event and loaded the finished bikes to store until they are distributed. Community Christmas parties are held for those in need and bikes are given out at the parties.
SLBC president John Komoroske commented on the need people have for these bicycles.
“It is great for the kids who ride the bikes like we do at the club for pleasure, but for adults these bikes can mean transportation to work,” he said.
As in past years, people arrived with brand new bikes to donate.
Kathy Howser and Corda Oehling, friends for 50 years, first in Pittsburgh and now as neighbors in the Village of Summerhill, get together each year to do something to give back at Christmas time.
“We always want to help some kids in needs,” said Oehling. “Often we do the angel trees.”
Last year Howser donated her bike to Bikes for Kids and saw the need for bikes for the smaller children. “We decided this year to add to the bikes for the smaller kids knowing they receive a lot of adult bikes,” said Howser.
She and Oehling bought new bikes and helmets and enjoyed doing it.
“It is the season for giving back,” said Howser.
Brian Knutson of the Village of Sanibel donated a bike he had received a couple of years ago as a gift. “I held on to it thinking my knee would get better and I would be able to ride it,” said Knutson. “Not sure with my knee injury if I will ever be able to ride it and decided I would rather see it go to someone now that can make good use of it.”
Volunteer Paul Pierro, involved in the mechanics of repairing the bikes, enjoys helping out the kids, but admits he gets something else out of it, too.
“I used to own a bike shop in Ocracoke, N.C. I look forward to getting out my tools and working on these bikes,” he said.
Peggy Thompson, a member of the SLBC since their first meeting, was steadily drying off all the washed bikes.
“I volunteer on all the club’s special projects,” said Thompson.
After bikes were received, the first station they went to was the washing station.
“For the last two years I washed the bikes, this year I got promoted to drier,” joked Thompson.
Bikes for Kids was operated by the Villages Bicycle Club under the leadership of Ann and Ed Hankwitz for several years. The program has grown so large that they enlisted the help this year of the SLBC to run the program. With more than 800 members, the SLBC is in a better position to operate a program of this size. SLBC member and past president Dave Lawrence headed up the program this year.
“Dave is doing a great job,” said Hankwitz. “I am enjoying just being a volunteer this year.”
One change Lawrence made was picking up more bikes in advance.
“We started the day with almost 200 bikes ready to be worked on, which means our volunteers could get started working right away when they arrived,” said Lawrence.
In addition to the two clubs, bike shops David’s World in Wildwood and Santos Bike Shop in Ocala participated as volunteers and also supplied needed parts including a bell for each child’s bike donated. “We are getting really beautiful bikes this year.” said Lawrence. “That alone makes it a successful event. Almost every bike donated can be put in like-new condition today, ready to go to an adult or child this holiday season.”