Local group to donate high-quality bicycles to homeless teens
For Release: January 23, 2008
Contacts: Laurel Kelly, Crosswalk director (509.624.2378) or Liza Mattana, Pedals 2 People president (509.981.3348)
Spokane, Wash.—Pedals 2 People will be dropping off a donation of ten high-quality refurbished bicycles to needy teens at Volunteers of America’s Crosswalk shelter (525 W. Second Ave.) this Thursday, January 24, at 3:00 p.m.
Pedals 2 People is a local nonprofit that uses the bicycle as an agent of change—empowering people to build healthier bodies, lives, and communities. The group not only repairs and refurbishes bikes gathering dust in garages across the city and offers free bike tune-ups at community centers and in neighborhoods in the area—they also collect donated bikes, fixing them up and giving them to people who would not otherwise be able to afford them—people like the homeless teens accessing the Crosswalk emergency shelter.
“Having a bike means more than just a way to get some exercise and fresh air,” explains Laurel Kelly, director of youth programs at Volunteers of America. “For these kids, a bike can mean a reliable form of transportation. For a kid who may not even have a dry pair of socks, that is a big deal. It can mean the difference between making it to a job interview or not.”
“We’re glad to be able to do this,” says Liza Mattana, president of the Board of Directors at Pedals 2 People. “As we get more bicycle donations, we hope to bring more.”
About Pedals to People: Our mission is to use the bicycle as a tool to empower people and build healthier communities. We believe that the bicycle is an approachable, healthy and sustainable option for transportation, and most importantly, it provides a purely enjoyable activity that can strengthen bonds between people. Pedals 2 People also works to connect with other organizations in order to further extend its ability to recycle, reuse and rehabilitate bicycles back into local communities as well as communities abroad. Contact us at pedals2people@gmail.com for more information and directions to our garage. Or you can call John at 981-3348.
About Crosswalk: Founded in 1985, Crosswalk is an emergency shelter, a school drop-out prevention program, and a group of life-saving and life-changing programs dedicated to breaking the cycle of youth homelessness by helping young people avoid or leave the streets through re-uniting families, supplying survival necessities, finding safe homes, teaching self-sufficiency, and offering hope and support. In an average year, Crosswalk serves more than 1,000 youth each year (ranging in age from 13 to 21). Emergency shelter is available 365 days a year and all services are free and voluntary.
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