Free Bikes 4 Kidz New Mexico to Give Away 500 Bicycles

 

Reposting from Seniors on Bikes just to get as wide an audience as possible.

Free Bikes 4 Kidz New Mexico will be hosting three drive-thru bike collection days in April with the goal of collecting 500 bicycles to be refurbished then distributed topartner organizations around the state and placed with kids and adults in need. New Mexico is the 11th state to join a national growing movement called Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K.) Since its founding in Minnesota in 2008, FB4K has given away more than 100,000 refurbished bikes. One weekend a year, volunteers collect hundreds of used bikes and over the next two months will refurbish salvageable ones. A free helmet is provided with every donated bike.
 

Bicycle Technologies Incorporated (BTI), a national bike parts distributor based in Santa Fe, has teamed with FB4K to expand the organization’s highly successful bike donation program. The new affiliate, a non-profit called Free Bikes 4 Kidz/Bicycle Harvest will focus on creating a conduit to serve partners across New Mexico and support exemplary efforts like Silver Stallion in the Navajo Nation.

“Research shows that putting kids on bikes not only impacts their health in a positive way but also improves their psychological wellbeing and inspires confidence,” says Preston Martin, Founder and President of BTI. Every year, 25 million bikes are sold in the US and a third of those are kids bikes. Once outgrown, many of those bikes collect dust. That is a potentially constant supply of bikes to ensure kids who want a bike may have the opportunity to get one.

The schedule for the three COVID-19 safe drive-thru bike collection days are:

Los Alamos Friday, April 9 2PM-6PM IHM Catholic Church Parish Hall
Saturday, April 10 9AM-Noon 3700 Canyon Rd. Los Alamos

ABQ Saturday, April 10 11AM-3PM ABQ International Balloon Fiesta Park
Sport Systems 6915 Montgomery Blvd. NE.

Santa Fe Sunday, April 11 11AM-3PM BTI 33 Velocity Way

FB4K-NM will accept used kid’s or adult’s bicycles, tricycles, balance bikes and bike accessories at these events. In addition to these events, there is an ongoing bike collection during March and April at any of the participating local bike shops (during business hours) listed on the web site. For more information on FB4K-NM or to inquire about donations or volunteering, please visit fb4knm.org.