Madison non-profit gearing up for bicycle donation drive Oct. 8

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -Pumping the brakes—words that are not in Free Bikes 4 Kids Madison’s vocabulary. The Madison-based non-profit collects “gently used” bikes from the community, refurbishes them and gives them to kids and adults facing financial challenges.

On Saturday, Oct. 8, they are gearing up for their first donation drive of the year by collecting bicycles at six locations in the area.

“Free Bikes 4 Kids Madison is on a mission to see that every kid in Dane County has a bicycle,” said Kristie Goforth, FB4K executive director.

Since 2017, FB4K has worked with more than 100 non-profits and schools, getting bikes into the hands, feet and seats of those most in need. Over the past five years, they have given away on average 2,000 bikes per year according to the non-profit, and this upcoming season they hope to do the same.

“It’s filling that gap for the folks that are financially challenged and then there are the folks that have been historically excluded from cycling and that’s because of the high cost of entry or bike shops not being accessible in underserved communities,” added Goforth. “It’s a great way to wake up in the morning, it’s fast, it’s efficient.”

There are two donation drives this fall, the first this upcoming Saturday, and again Nov. 19. If you miss these two opportunities, you can also drop off bikes at their East Town Mall location Mondays and Wednesdays 9a.m. to 3p.m.

The success of their bike giveaways in the spring is entirely dependent upon the success of their donation drives, if you’d like to donate a bike, volunteer, or make a monetary donation, see here!

Saturday, October 8th | 10-2pm Locations

• DOWNTOWN - Breese Stevens Field – 917 E. Mifflin Street

• FITCHBURG - Delta Beer Lab – 167 E. Badger Road, Madison

• MIDDLETON - Lexus of Madison – 8000 Airport Road, Middleton

• MONONA - Monona Fire Department – 5211 Schluter Road

• SUN PRAIRIE - Starion Bank – 350 S. Grand Ave, Prairie Lakes

• VERONA - Salem United Church of Christ – 502 Mark Drive

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