New Deals for Old Wheels
On Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Faith Lutheran Church, 524 South Street in New Providence, will again be collecting second-hand bikes for use by adults and children in third world countries. The collection is being conducted on behalf of Pedals for Progress, an organization which annually recycles 6,000 bicycles for persons in developing countries. Anyone with a bicycle in repairable condition is urged to donate to this worthy cause. Bikes may be dropped off at the parking lot next to the church. On that day, members of Faith will repair and process the bikes for shipment by P4P.
Since 2002, Faith Lutheran has been collecting bikes for P4P. In 2021, five hundred sixty-four bikes were collected from persons and organizations in New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Mountainside, Westfield, Chatham, Warren, Scotch Plains and Fanwood. The collection by Faith occurs throughout the year. The range of towns was aided by articles published in Renna Media publications.
Every year affluent Americans buy 22 million new bicycles and discard millions of old ones, abandoning many more in basements, sheds and garages. Most of these end up in our already overburdened landfills.
P4P ships its reconditioned bikes to persons in need of countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The bikes provide reliable transportation to commute to work, transport produce to market, access health care and other services. Steady employment for adults is vital to the development and success of these economies.
P4P reports that the cost of shipping bikes has increased significantly in recent years and now presents a substantial financial burden to P4P. Last year, Faith contributed $3,000 toward the shipment of the bikes. Persons donating bikes gave $1,273 toward shipment. P4P is asking persons to donate $15 toward the shipping costs, if they are financially comfortable doing so. Donation or not, Faith welcomes all bikes in repairable condition.
Since 2016, the chairperson of Faith’s Pedal for Progress ministry has been Casey Walsh of Bridgewater, a long-time member of the church.
The pastor of Faith is Rev. Jane McCready. Visit online at famfaith.org or call the church office at 908-464-5177. The address is 524 South Street, New Providence.
