May 2 Bike Drop

 
All the volunteer-powered effort at R Community Bikes in Rochester would go nowhere without donations of bikes and parts. That's why last Saturday, Pittsford Rotarians, Pittsford Interact and R Community Bike volunteers accepted donations of over 130 complete bicycles, frames, wheels, components, accessories, tools, and just about anything bike-related. Donations were dropped off at Mendon High School, thanks to School Superintendent and Rotarian Mike Pero who allowed us to use the school parking lot. R Community Bike is a 501c(3) non-profit, and donors were furnished with a donation receipt for tax purposes.
 
Total donations this year was almost 100 bikes short compared to last year's Bike Drop. But that's still 130 bike more that volunteer bicycle mechanics can refurbish this summer for recipients who would not otherwise be able to get around.
 
Thank you note from Steve Wilterdink:
 
Folks- it looks like Bike Drop will net 130 bikes for R Community Bikes this year. That brings Pittsford Rotary’s total to 1438 since we started. Our Club also takes pride in the fact that other Rochester Rotary Clubs have started doing bike drops too. Greece will do their’s this coming weekend which draws from the west side. Henrietta and Irondequoit will do their’s in the Fall as people are putting the summer stuff away and getting out the snow blowers. Pittsford’s efforts (yours and ours) have begun an effort which provides bikes through out the year and from different parts of Monroe County.  R Community Bikes donates 2000 bikes annually. They also repair 3000 each year. This requires parts which come from donated bikes that are not able to be refurbished. This would not be possible without all of us.
 
It is amazing to see  the reaction of Pittsford residents. They are so appreciative of the opportunity to “unload” something they don’t use anymore for a good cause. Sometimes the bikes are so old and beat up, they can’t believe we are taking them. Most of the time the bikes are simply no longer wanted. What can be done other than throw them away? Everybody, including Rotary , like the alternative the Bike Drop presents.
 
We look forward to next year whenever SAT day is. I’ll check with you this Fall to begin planning. Thanks again.
 
Steve