The City of Richmond Police Department recently donated over 30 bicycles to Bike Walk KC for their Earn-a-Bike program. The bikes, which have been accumulating for almost 10 years, were in need of repair and unusable. Many needed new tires, new chains and were broken. Getting the bikes to an organization that can restore them and put them in the hands of children in need was the goal.
That’s where Bike Walk KC comes in. Bike Walk KC is a member-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to make Greater Kansas City a safer and more accessible place to walk, bicycle, live, work, and play. Through their Earn-a- Bike program, 4th-6th grade students in the KC area have access to bicycles which they can ride to and from school. Since the program’s inception in 2012, Bike Walk KC has given out over 300 bicycles to Kansas City area youth. Students learn basic bicycle mechanics, advocacy, and safety skills with weekly projects. With successful completion of the program, students receive a bicycle they helped to fix.
“We are excited to donate these unusable bikes to kids in need” said Chad Burnine, Richmond Police Chief. “This partnership with Bike Walk KC will not only benefit children in the Kansas City area, Richmond organizations can also request a bike for someone in need, which will benefit kids in our community.”
Bike Walk KC accepts bicycle donations from all across the KC metro and outlying areas. For more information, visit bikewalkkc.org or contact Maggie Priesmeyer, Education Programs Manager at maggie.priesmeyer@bikewalkkc.org or 816-205-7056 extension 7.
