Rotary Club Holding Bike Drive for the Needy

The Newtown Rotary Club is holding a Pedals for Progress bike collection on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon. The collection will be held in the parking lot across from Olde St. Andrew Church on Sycamore Street.

This is the 10th year the local Rotary Club will hold a collection for Pedals for Progess, a nonprofit organization that ships used bicycles to countries like Nicaragua, Ghana and Vietnam. The goal is to help residents of developing countries achieve independence by giving them bikes.

Any adult or child’s bicycle in repairable condition can be donated. No bike parts or disassembled bikes will be accepted.

Each year, Pedals for Progress collects 5,000 to 7,000 bicycles for the needy. To date, more than 136,000 bicycles have been shipped to developing countries in Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. 

“In these countries the bikes are reconditioned by partner agencies and distributed at low cost to poor working adults. These bikes provide them with reliable transportation for commuting to work, transporting produce to market, or accessing health care and other services.  Steady employment for these adults is vital to the development and success for these economies,” according to information provided by the Newtown Rotary Club.

It costs the organization $40 to collect, process, ship, rebuild and distribute each bicycle.  A donation toward shipping costs is necessary – a suggested minimum is $10 per bike.  All cash and material donations are fully tax deductible and a receipt will be available at the collection site.

The organization will also be collecting sewing machines to donate to developing countries.

To learn more about Pedals for Progress visit www.p4p.org.

For more information about the bike collection event, contact Dr. Jerry Agasar at 215-605-3268 or email DrJerry@8ww.com.