Community Corner
Rocky Point Cycle Hosts Pedals For Progress
Locals donate their bikes for a good cause.
It may have been perfect weather for a bike ride Saturday, but local cyclists' instead came out to donate their bikes as hosted Pedals for Progress sponsored by The Long Island Returned Peace Corp Volunteers.
Co-organizer of the event and a Long Island Returned Peace Corp Volunteer, Bette Bass, said Pedals for Progress, a non-profit operation based out of New Jersey, is a cause very dear to their hearts.
"It is such a wonderful thing to be able to give back." she said. "These bikes are set to go to Albania and Vietnam, where people will be able to use them to get to the market or schoo;. There may not be roadways where the bikes are going but alot of the times there is enough flat land, so a bike is perfect."
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Charlie Bevington, a local Rocky Point resident and Returned Peace Corp volunteer, said the goal for the donation was 50.
"50 bikes for the 50 year anniversary of the Peace Corp Association," Bevington said. "The Suffolk County Bikers Association helped get the word out."
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The drive exceeded its goal with 74 bikes donated along with around $800 raised as well.
This is first year hosting the event. When asked if he would consider hosting the event again store owner Gary Wladyka said he wouldn't hesitate.
"We've done donation bike drives for other causes over the years, but the problem is alot of times the agencies don't have the man power to distribute the bikes," he said.
got the word out about the donation event to as many people as possible, posting on Facebook, alerting local publications and sending out mass email's as well.
"One thing about cyclists is they are passionate," Wladyka said. "We are passionate about our bikes, and when a bike is going to a good cause you feel better about letting go of it."
Over the years since Pedals for Progress has been in operation it has successfully distributed over 100,000 bikes. In the eight years that the Long Island Returned Peace Corp Volunteers have been organizing events on Long Island, they have helped to get over 800 bikes into the hands of families and individuals.
If you have a bike you would like to donate to Pedals for Progress you can find their donation schedule on their website.
