DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Dozens of children in the Decatur area will be waking up to a special surprise this holiday season thanks to a long-standing partnership between the Decatur Bicycle Club, Decatur Bicycle Shoppe, and Macon County Toys for Tots.
Continuing its annual tradition, the club and business have donated 59 gently used children’s bicycles to the Macon County Toys for Tots. Many of the bikes were donated by community members, each repaired and prepared for children in need.
“We’ve been doing this project for four or five years now,” said Ralph, a member of the Decatur Bicycle Club. “We collect used bikes, get them in good running order and then transport them over to the Toys for Tots program through the Salvation Army.”
Community members donated the bikes and then cleaned, repaired and inspected them by club volunteers and staff at the Decatur Bicycle Shoppe. Club leaders said they budget money each year specifically for repairs to ensure the bikes are safe and ready to ride.
“We had a half-dozen club members in here all day Saturday working along with Scott and his dad to get all the bikes ready,” a club representative said, adding that the effort included everything from tricycles to bikes suitable for teenagers.
For club members, the mission goes beyond holiday giving. They said it promotes bicycling, and getting young people involved is at the heart of why the project continues year after year.
“Our working motto is to promote bicycling in the community, especially to get young kids involved,” Ralph said. “It gives kids who might not otherwise be able to get one the chance to have a bike.”
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