Sharing Wheels Delivers 151 Bikes To Low Income Families

A great Holiday update from the folks at Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop in Everett, Washington.

Many Snohomish County kids will get a bike this holiday season thanks to Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop supporters. More than 75 volunteers helped the nonprofit prepare 151 new and used bikes for low income families this fall.

About 100 bikes were matched up directly with families through the Everett bike shop. Additional bikes have been distributed to the Salvation Army, Dawson’s Place, Interfaith Family Shelter, Everett High School PTA, and Domestic Violence Services.

“These bike gifts were made possible by the generosity of the community,” explained Executive Director Christy Cowley. Many people donated cash or gently-used bikes in support of the program. Sharing Wheels purchased new helmets to go with every bike.

The Stillaguamish Tribe recently awarded a $5,400 grant to support Sharing Wheels kids bike programs and volunteers. Eagle Scout Henry Amend did a GoFundMe campaign to raise $3,000 for new bikes that fellow Scouts helped build. The Everett Sail and Power Squadron donated 34 new bikes.

Bikes aren’t just kids toys, though. Sharing Wheels works year-round to help adults who need bikes for transportation and health. A City of Everett grant allowed the nonprofit to give maintenance classes and bikes to 12 low income adults this year. The Everett Port Gardner Rotary granted $2,000 to support the shop’s free self-help repair services.

Sharing Wheels is not currently accepting donations of bikes for kids or adults – the shop is full, along with our hearts.

If you need a bike, however, the shop has an excellent selection of refurbished adult bikes. The shop is located at 2531 Broadway, Everett. Parking and access are at the back of the Broadway Mall building. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Sharing Wheels will be closed Dec. 25-Jan. 1.