Dozens of bikes rolled into the Old Virgil public school Saturday during Bikes For Farmworkers’ drive, helping replenish its shrinking supply for migrant farmworkers in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
And after several calls from residents with bikes but no way to drop them off, the volunteer group is arranging pickups this week.
“We were really happy to get as many bikes as we did,” said volunteer Dave Cox. “It was a great day, we’re really thankful for the support of the community.”
One generous donor from Toronto, who has contributed in the past, delivered a whopping 15 bikes from an organization that repairs bikes for public use but had a surplus needing major work, Cox said. In total, the group has received 45 new bikes this spring.
The donations will keep the program stocked for at least the next month or two, but Cox says the volunteer group will “see what happens after that.”
But with increased awareness and signage around town, Cox said he expects donations to keep coming.
“Hopefully, people keep us in mind and as they uncover a bike that they have or decide they don’t want to ride a bike anymore, that they’ll think of us and give us a call.”
Some donations also included nearly new bikes, which Cox says will help the volunteers save time and resources on repairs.
While the program focuses on refurbishing donated bikes, volunteers have explored other ways to increase supply, such as approaching Canadian Tire for help.
“When people come in (to Canadian Tire) to buy a bike, if they have an old bike, they could drop it off there and we would come and pick it up,” said Cox. “But we haven’t got any traction on that just yet.”
Cox has high hopes for the next bike drive, being held on Saturday, April 5, at the Old Virgil public school at 1665 Four Mile Creek Rd. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“I think we’ll get some more (bikes) for sure this week,” he said.
For those unable to attend the drive, volunteers are also picking up bikes from locations across Niagara, just call 289-547-7442.
The shop sells bikes from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sundays and then on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while drop-offs and repairs run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday hours extend to 7 p.m. in May.
Bike drop-offs are welcome anytime at the Old Virgil Public School, any day of the week.
