Giving kids the gift of wheels

I caught this in yersterday's paper, and was amazed at how many kids
these folks were able to hook up with bikes for just $200.

http://www.dailyherald.com/news/kanestory.asp?id=299536&cc=k&tc=cvl&t=carpentersvi lle
http://tinyurl.com/28r5zo




Couple gives 50 kids the gift of wheels

By Jameel Naqvi
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Sunday, April 08, 2007

The 50 kids who stopped by Grace Community Ministries in Carpentersville
Saturday didnt go home on foot.

Thanks to the generosity of a Carpentersville couple, the kids got to
ride away on a new well, slightly used set of wheels.

A week earlier, Ron and Sabrina Thomas bought more than 50 bicycles at an
Elgin police auction for about $200.

Saturday, the Thomas gave the bikes to local children and their parents at
no charge.

Some of the families have multiple kids, and its hard to buy bikes for all
the kids, Ron Thomas said.

News of the free bikes spread fast. Although the giveaway started at 9 a.m.,
some kids were lined up as early as 8. All but two of the bikes had been
claimed in the first hour.

As was the case the previous two times the Thomas have done a bike giveaway,
demand outstripped supply.

But Ron Thomas said he took down the names of children who didnt get a bike
and plans to hold another giveaway after buying more in an upcoming
Carpentersville police auction.

He added fewer kids came to the church because of the holiday weekend and he
hopes to have a greater turnout at his next event.

The Thomas started the event in the late 1990s to get more kids playing
outside, where they could get exercise and socialize with other children.

Bicycles are something that keeps kids out of the house playing video games,
Ron Thomas said.

The first year of the giveaway, there were 100 bikes, and they still werent
enough for every child. After that first year, the Thomas knew what to expect.

Ron Thomas was at the church at 5 a.m. Saturday, fixing up the bikes for their
new owners. Most of them just needed air in their tires.

A Carpentersville police officer was on hand Saturday to register the bikes in
case they get lost. Its good for the kids to see the police in a different light,
Ron Thomas said.

dailyherald.com




--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_
(_)/ (_)

Kristian M Zoerhoff wrote:
I caught this in yersterday's paper, and was amazed at how many kids
these folks were able to hook up with bikes for just $200.

snip

A smart bike shop owner could help get kids on the road by having a
weekend free or low-cost repair clinic. Amazing how many times I hear "I
can't ride, I have a flat."

I'm doing a clinic for the cub scout den, scouts, parents, and siblings.
Most of these people have not the slightest idea of how to fix a flat,
lube a chain, etc.

I ordered a bunch of the ShelBroCo Bicycle Chain Cleaning System for
this event.