Pedals for Progress bike collection

Eagle Scout candidate Matt Thomas of Troop 146 will be collecting adult and child bicycles in good condition for Pedals for Progress, a charity that provides bicycles to third world countries. The bike drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  on October 13 at West Hartford United Methodist Church, 1358 New Britain Avenue. A $10 donation is required to cover shipping costs.

Every year, Americans buy 18 million new bicycles and discard millions of old ones in overburdened landfills. Meanwhile, poor people overseas need inexpensive, non-polluting transportation to get to jobs, markets, customers, and schools. Pedals for Progress has received, processed and donated over 130,000 bicycles and $10.8 million in new spare parts to partner charities in 38 developing world countries. Pedals for Progress bikes are put to work not only as basic transportation, but are used as a supplement to school and community programs. The bikes are adapted for use as trash haulers, produce trucks, taxis, and farm machinery. Medical personnel in remote areas rely on the bicycle to get them to villages that are not accessible. P4P also arranges for the bicycle shops to have a supply of tools, parts, accessories, and lubricants for maintaining the bikes. For more information on the bike drive, contact Matt at starflyr999@aol.com.