Wheels of Hope will again collect used bikes to send to communities in Africa.
On July 1 the team will be at the Elora United Church from 8am to 1pm to receive used bikes. The church is located at 75 Geddes St., Elora.
Wheels of Hope is also offering a free bike pick-up service for anyone unable to make the drop off date.
Wheels of Hope is a project of Elora United Church and Friends, in support of Bicycles for Humanity, coming together throughout Centre Wellington to collect unwanted bicycles to ship to community-based organizations in Africa called Bicycle Empowerment Centres (BEC).
After the bikes arrive they are refurbished and distributed and the sea container is converted into a bike shop. Local people are trained in bike mechanics and business opportunities arise for community bike shops.
The extended reach of health care, HIV, education and other services also becomes possible.
Wheels of Hope started collecting bikes in 2011 and together with a B4H Chapter in Brampton, shipped over 300 bikes from Centre Wellington.
Because collections went so well in the community in 2012, two containers were purchased – one for Centre Wellington and one for Brampton.
On Dec. 31, the local container was filled with 467 bikes and over 700 pounds of spare parts. The container arrived in Namibia in March and the bikes are now moving across the country.
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services held a very successful collection day at its main offices in Guelph. Over 60 bikes were collected.
Portage in Elora helped to break down bikes for the container. The youth enjoy working on the bikes and this provides a huge sense of accomplishment, officials state.
Because Bicycles for Humanity is a 100 per cent grassroots movement working with a volunteer base only, all the money comes from fundraising and donations.
For more information or to arrange a bike pick up contact Bonnie Norris at 519-843-6144.
