A bike for Christmas

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

People looking for affordable bicycles for children, will find what they are looking for at the Penticton and District Society for Community Living, today, Friday.

The first annual kid's Christmas bike sale is running until 3:30 p.m. at the organization's office on Industrial Avenue.

"We've cleared out everything for just the kids bikes to be on sale here and right now they are 50 per cent off," said executive director Tony Laing.

It was Paul Creasey, a new staff person in the bike shop, who  came up with the idea for the sale as a way to support low income families and get word out about the shop.

Laing was immediately receptive.

"We just thought it was a great idea," he said.

The bikes for sale are ones that have been lost or stolen, turned over to PDSCL by the RCMP, then held in impound for 90 days before being sold.

By mid-morning, Friday, they had sold about five, with customers praising the effort.

"People have been really excited about the sale," said Creasey. "One lady said it was a life-saver, because she was able to buy two bikes for her kids for Christmas."

The bike shop is typically open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Both adult and children's bikes range in price from $20 to $2,000, with funds raised going back to the clients who work in the shop.