Bikes for Kids Volunteer Activities
by Kim Moore
The approach of October, November and December mean that it is time for buying, assembling and delivering hundreds of bikes for kids via the Christmas Mother programs in the cities and counties of Central Virginia. Andrew Mann, RABA Foundation president, has been working very hard to raise awareness and funds this entire year.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult, but it hasn’t stopped Andrew or the rest of the Foundation’s Board of Directors (Linda Becraft, Cindy Evans, Ed Hellerman, Paul Martin and myself) from doing all that we can for Bikes for Kids Charity effort. We had two successful donation match drives and, thanks to RABA’s Heart of Virginia COVID-19 Challenge Rides, a generous donation from the event.
It is now time to put all of that fundraising to work. Andrew has purchased over 300 bicycles in October using lots of patience, persistence and ingenuity since there is a shortage of bicycles in the U.S.! He went to a different supplier because Walmart had zero inventory. We are partnering with Richmond Community Toolbank and using their warehouse in the City of Richmond for storage and the assembly activities. Thank you, Toolbank!
I have been blasting the RABA Message Board and the club’s official Facebook page, Richmond Area Bicycling Association – RABA, with calls for volunteers for all the events for associated for Bikes for Kids. For those of you who are not on the Message Board or as a refresher of our volunteer needs, here are dates, brief descriptions and registration links:
- Thurs, Nov 5, 5 PM to 7:30 PM at Richmond Community Toolbank, 1407 Cummings Dr. – sorting, stacking and counting bike boxes in preparation for the actual assembly. No more than 15 volunteers allowed to work inside the warehouse, face masks required to be worn. Registration link: https://www.viethconsulting.com/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=RABA&evid=24878377
- Sat, Nov 7, 8 AM to 12 Noon, at Richmond Community Toolbank – it’s Bikes for Kids Assembly Day! We will have a how to put together bike classes at 8:15 AM and then hope to start building around 9 AM. There will be a Quality Assurance team to ensure the bicycles are put together correctly and are safe to ride. We will be working outside, in the parking lots surrounding the Toolbank warehouse. Volunteers must wear face masks at all times and social distancing of 6 feet or more will be enforced around the bike builders and Quality Assurance teams. Registration link: https://www.viethconsulting.com/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=RABA&evid=25088561
- **If there is strong rain on Sat, Nov 7, the event will be cancelled for that day and bike builds will take place on the afternoons of Tues, Nov 10, and Thurs, Nov 19. If not all the bikes are assembled on Sat, Nov 7, for whatever reason, Tues, Nov 10, and Thurs, Nov 19, will be used to finish the assembly. Watch the RABA Message Board for details and sign ups if these dates must be used.
- Thurs, Dec 3, 5 PM to 7:30 PM at Richmond Community Toolbank – sorting, stacking and counting bike boxes in preparation for deliveries to Christmas Mother programs. Toolbank asked for the date change due to a misunderstanding that the facility is open on Wednesday evenings when it is actually not open. No more than 15 volunteers allowed to work inside the warehouse, face masks required to be worn. Registration link: https://www.viethconsulting.com/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=RABA&evid=24878377
- Sat, Dec 5, 9 AM, at Richmond Community Toolbank – volunteer drivers of large SUVs, vans, pick up trucks or cars with tow trailers will be needed to deliver bikes to Christmas Mother programs in the Central VA area. Volunteers will be required to wear masks while loading bicycles. Registration link: https://www.viethconsulting.com/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=RABA&evid=24878377
I know it’s a lot of information, but COVID-19 left us no choice but to get creative with how these events should be organized and scheduled. We are committed to providing as safe of a working environment as possible AND getting those bicycles built and delivered so that families with children will have a holiday that they won’t forget. Thanks to everyone who has volunteered so far and thanks for continued support of this charity program.