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METRO DETROIT — For anyone out there who has a bicycle they’re not riding anymore, there’s one local nonprofit organization that will gladly take it.
Free Bikes 4 Kidz Detroit will hold its “Massive Bike Collection” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at participating Home Depot stores in Southeastern Michigan, including Madison Heights, Troy, Shelby Township, Rochester Hills and Southfield. Specific drop-off locations can be found at fb4kdetroit.org/locations.
An area will be set up where people can donate gently used bikes that will, in turn, be delivered to children in need. This is the fifth year for the program. According to FB4K Detroit Executive Director Bob Barnes, volunteers amassed more than 2,000 bikes during last year’s collection.
“We collect all kinds of bikes,” said Larry Fieroh, one of the founders of the Detroit chapter. “We get some interesting bikes and some very unique ones.”
Once the donated bikes are received, they are stored at a warehouse provided by the Piston Group in Detroit. From Oct. 3 through Dec. 8, volunteers of all skill levels clean and refurbish the donated bikes. Once the bicycles are ready, they are delivered to disadvantaged children who have been selected through faith-based and community organizations, and schools.
“Our collaboration with FB4K Detroit is meaningful to our company and our community,” Piston Group Founder/Chairman and retired National Basketball League champion Vinnie Johnson said in a prepared statement. “After all the bikes are donated, we need hundreds of volunteers over the next three months to help get them ready. It’s a perfect opportunity for organizations or companies looking for a positive, charitable, team-building activity.”
Free Bikes 4 Kidz Detroit is among 17 FB4K affiliates across the U.S. Since 2018, FB4K Detroit has given away over 7,300 bikes to local children. The goal is to give the bikes to the kids as a Christmas present, as all the bikes are donated prior to Christmas Day. The bicycles are lined up in the warehouse so the children can pick out what they like.
“There are a lot of kids out there that don’t have the experience of a first ride. These are the stories we are trying to create. On a bike, you are able to go to a place and have some independence. The 16-year-olds, you’d be surprised how many of them need a bike,” Fieroh said. “To watch the kids look for a bike, that’s kind of fun. Home Depot has been incredibly helpful, and the Piston Group, they do a nice job of publicity.”
If interested in volunteering for the cause, visit the website fb4kdetroit.org to sign up for a three-hour shift. Groups can schedule a shift by emailing volunteer@fb4kdetroit.org. Volunteers will be matched to their skill levels.
Piston Group, comprising of Piston Automotive, Irvin Products, Detroit Thermal Systems, and A. Lava, is headquartered in Southfield. It designs, engineers, assembles and manufactures a wide variety of automotive parts and systems. Johnson founded Piston Group in 1995. Visit pistongroup.com for more information.
