For several months, Naperville Sunrise Rotarians have been geared up for their international project to benefit children in Africa.
Used, outgrown and/or repairable bikes for children and adults are being collected by Naperville Sunrise Rotary to benefit Bikes for Lesotho.
Until mid-August, gently-used bikes may be dropped off during regular business hours at the historic Post Office location of Naperville Bank & Trust, 5 South Washington Street at Benton Ave., in downtown Naperville.
Bikes for Lesotho is a project that sends bicycles to children and young people in impoverished mountain villages of the Kingdom of Lesotho in Southern Africa.
Donated bikes will be repaired, reconditioned and shipped by the nonprofit organization to some of the 100,000 AIDS/HIV orphans living in the region. More than 1,000 bikes have been sent in the past two years.
Big push Saturday morning, May 31
Rotarians were on site accepting used bikes from 10AM-Noon on Saturday, May 31, now being stored at the Naperville Bank & Trust.
Above / Rotarians Adrian Knowles and Mike Albrow collect bikes of all sizes to fill space provided by Naperville Bank & Trust.
“Do you know Tom Miers?” asked Rotarian Adrian Knowles. “He’s a member of our club and the president of the bank.”
Knowles and fellow Rotarian Mike Albrow went on to explain that Miers has made arrangements for bank employees to accept bikes brought to the branch anytime during weekday business hours at least through mid-August. Though the official drop off schedule on the last Saturday of the month is past, the project to send bikes to children in the mountains of Southern Africa and needy people anywhere will be ongoing.
Throughout the morning, residents in pick-up trucks or cars with bike racks pulled into the parking lot off Washington Street, prepared to donate bikes, mostly in good condition and some simply in need of air for flat tires.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to clean out the garage for summer, fit your kids with new bikes or maybe upgrade your own wheels, while helping these children discover the joy of biking and owning something that reflects our caring for them,” says Naperville Sunrise Rotary President John Nania. “I would encourage all area families to take stock of their old bicycles and take advantage of this easy opportunity to take part in a humanitarian act.”
For more information regarding the bike collection, call Naperville Sunrise Rotary at (773) 847-5440 or Trek Bicycles at (773) 847-5440 or visit www.napervillesunrise.org.
FYI: The Rotary Club of Naperville/Sunrise is one of four Rotary clubs that serves Naperville.
Above / Rotary Sunrise also hosts the annual St. Paddy’s Day 5K, held before the West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March.
