Free bikes for children

Photo: Contributed

Come down and get your child a bike at the second bicycle giveaway of the year July 5.

The Kelowna chapter of Bicycles for Humanity is giving away children's bikes for the second time this year.  

At least 100 bikes for children will be available Saturday, July  5 between 8 a.m. and noon.

Among the giveaways at St. Charles Garnier Church are tricycles, bikes with training wheels, scooters and regular two-wheelers suitable for preteens. A donations is requested but not required.

"I can't believe how fast they come in," said Keith Germaine who co-ordinates bike shipments to Africa. "We gave away a hundred in April and already we have a ton more. We never ask for kids' bikes since we can't ship them."

Germaine explained that the Kelowna group sends two containers with close to 1,000 donated adult bikes to the West African country of Ghana each year. Since bikes go to nurses, farmers, health care workers and teachers, a bike with training wheels, for example, in the container, would deprive a farmer of a means of taking produce to market more quickly than on foot.

As well as having bikes dropped off at the church, children’s bikes are also rescued from landfill sites because they are just too good to be wasted.

Representatives of Bicycles for Humanity will be on hand at St. Charles Garnier Church on July 5 to explain how the charity works, assist with bike adjustments, do minor repairs and accept donations.

For more information contact Keith at 250-764-2942.