Bikes for Kids Inc. is currently seeking financial assistance with this year’s event to be held on April 8th.

Bikes for Kids has been able to help children’s wishes come true over the past few years by distributing hundreds of bikes free of charge.

In a fundraising letter, they say, “we need the community’s help to make even more children’s wishes come true. Thanks to people like you, Bikes for Kids provided over 430 local deserving children with a free bike and helmet in 2022, totaling more than 800 children in need since 2020. While it may sound like a lot, we are only getting started.”

 Bikes for Kids provided Marshall County statistics showing that 12% of all households live in poverty. An additional 26% of households are classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) homes and over 2,700 children in Marshall County qualify for a bike through the Bikes for Kids charity.

For this year’s Easter weekend giveaway, Bikes for Kids will be partnering with the Plymouth Community School Corporation and the Culver Community School Systems to provide bikes and helmets to local children classified as living in poverty and/or ALICE households.

At the 2023 event Bikes for Kids plans to provide approximately 175 2nd graders with a new bike and helmet and provide approximately 175 siblings with a refurbished bike and helmet. Bikes for Kids hope to also provide more than 125 additional local children in need with a refurbished bike and helmet at the giveaway on April 8th at Plymouth’s Centennial Park.

In total, they plan to provide a bike to over 475 local children in need during our 2023 event.

For every $80 donated, Bikes for Kids can provide a new bike to 1 child or provide 5 children with a refurbished, gently used bike.

Chip Dean, President of the local Bikes for Kids event said donations are tax-deductible.  He hopes to have commitments from the community by February 15th, to allow them time to finalize a plan to serve over 475 children in need at the 2023 event.

You can sponsor a child for $80 although any monetary donation is welcomed and will help provide bikes and helmets for kids this year.  Donations may be mailed to Bikes for Kids Inc. 19329 6B Road in Plymouth.