By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews.com
WALDPORT — About 40 young children in the Waldport-Yachats area will be getting free bicycles this year, courtesy of the Green Bike Co-op in Waldport.
A tradition for a dozen years, the holiday bike giveaway grants the wishes of kids whose families can’t afford to pay for bikes themselves. Green Bike is an all-volunteer nonprofit group that rents, sells and repairs bicycles out of its quarters — the former Waldport Heritage Museum at Northeast Third and Grant Streets. The co-op is a subsidiary of Seashore Family Literacy.
“All the bikes are ones that have been donated all year long,” said Rick Hill, a longtime volunteer from Seal Rock. “These are for children — not teens — since the maximum wheel diameter is 20 inches, with some at 18 and 12 inches.”
With an estimated value of $50 to $100, the used bikes have all been inspected and repaired, if necessary, sometimes repainted, and fitted with safety reflectors.
Co-op volunteers seek bicycle recipients in three ways. First, letters go out in the Thanksgiving baskets provided by South Lincoln Resources, another Waldport non-profit that provides food, clothing, furniture and more for people in need. The letters ask if a child in the household wants a bike, and then a family member can pick one up at the Co-Op.
“Washington Federal Bank runs that side of the operation,” said Green Bike administrator Curt Werner, crediting Waldport branch manager Raenette Mohni for her efforts.
The second segment of the giveaway comes during Seashore Literacy’s annual family Christmas event, slated for Dec. 17-18 this year at the Co-Op. There, more bikes will be available as gifts along with tables of other holiday presents.
The third part of the bike bonanza centers on Yachats. Hill said the organization will post a notice on the local Facebook page advising that the remainder of the bikes will be brought to the Pavilion behind the Commons building. The event will take place before Christmas — with a specific date still to be determined.
While the Co-Op isn’t accepting donations of bicycles right now, “Money is always welcome,” said Hill. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to: Green Bike Co-Op, 320 N.E. Grant St., Waldport, Ore. 97394.