Rotary Club of Westfield Bicycles for Honduras
Rotary Club of Westfield
On Saturday, October 9, 2021, The Rotary Club of Westfield collected used bicycles to send to Honduras. Collection Chair Warren Rorden was very pleased with the results. He states that the Rotary collected 104 used bikes and 40 brand new Schwinn bikes, along with $1,800 in donations. The donations are important to help pay the shipping costs.
The Rotary Club started collecting bikes in 1997 with Michael Hart as Club President and Warren Rorden as the Bike Collection Project Chair. Over the past 24 years, the club has collected 2,800 bikes, which have improved the lives of 2800 families in the third world. The club works with an organization called Pedals For Progress, which collects the bikes and ships them. Website www.p4p.org.
Americans purchase 50 million bicycles per year, but then throw 20 million perfectly good bikes in the landfills. The purpose of this program is to send the used bicycles where they will do the most good. In third world countries, many people need to walk everywhere- to fetch water or firewood; bring produce to market, or get to travel to their jobs. If children need to walk 5 miles to school, they just do not go. If a tradesman has a bicycle, they can carry their tools with them and be more productive. Therefore, a bike can make a huge difference in a persons life. Bicycles do not create air pollution, and creates jobs because now the village needs a bike shop to repair tires, fix chains, etc.
Off road bikes are sent to countries which do not have paved roads. Road bikes are sent to countries with paved roads. Children’s bikes are important to help kids get to school.
Sewing machines are also collected and shipped. A sewing machine can give a single mother a way to support her family.
The Rotary Club of Westfield is an organization of local business men and women and community leaders who wish to help provide service to the community and to the world. Besides recycling bicycles, the Club helps support the homeless veterans living at Lyons VA Hospital; helped the Afghani refugees at McGuire AFB; helps to feed the food insecure in Westfield and Elizabeth; provides scholarships to high school seniors, Grants to local community groups, and supports Youth service clubs in the schools. The club meets the first and third Tuesdays at noon by Zoom, and the second Tuesday for lunch in person. For more information contact Club Secretary Dr. D. Michael Hart Email: drmhart@yahoo.com.
