RCMoeur 

For several years, I've volunteered for a group called Recycle Your Bicycle for a Kid in Foster Care, based in the metro Phoenix area. RYB accepts donated bicycles and fixes them up for foster children and teens across Arizona. They weren't able to do as much in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID and global parts shortages, but are fully returned to action in 2022.

Back on Saturday, August 27th , they accepted donations of literally thousands of used and new bicycles at several locations, so the good news is there are lots of bikes to work on.

Starting this Saturday, October 8th, there will be workshop days each Saturday morning through December 3rd where volunteers fix up the bicycles and get them ready for the foster kids, including replacing tires and inner tubes and adjusting shifters, brakes, and other components. If you know your way around a bike and are in the metro area, here's an opportunity to have fun wrenching and give back to the community at the same time. I'm planning on being there most Saturdays. There will probably also be weekday evening bicycle fix-up sessions focused on heavy-duty bike repair (maybe Wednesdays). The organization provides all necessary tools and parts - you don't need to bring your own. However, if you have bicycle repair tools or a workstand and prefer to use your own, that's fine too. If you're not confident in or interested in bike repair, there are many other volunteer positions open, such as bike cleaning, storage and organizing, etc.

This year, all the fixing-up activities will be at a donated warehouse and hangar at 1300 S. Litchfield Road at Goodyear Airport.

As most of you know, the cost of tubes, tires, and other parts is much higher than in previous years, and RYB will need to raise some serious money to afford to fix up a bunch of bikes, even though they receive some support from the Arizona Lottery and other sources. But there is a way you can donate to the Recycle Your Bicycle program and get 100% of it back on your Arizona taxes (if an AZ resident). Since this is a foster care assistance program, it's eligible for the Arizona state tax credit (not a deduction, but a full dollar-for-dollar credit) - if you donate through the link on the RYB webpage. You can donate up to $500 per year as a single taxpayer or $1000 filing jointly. We do every year, and it's great when you type it into the tax software and watch that number plummet.

For more information on RYB, see their website at https://www.recycleyourbicycleaz.com/ .

JessieSayre

Hi, I would like to join this charity but I haven't got what to do or where to start.

RCMoeur 

RYB is working out at Flite Goodyear, 1300 S. Litchfield Rd., Bldg 120, Goodyear, AZ 85338 (Goodyear Airport, NE corner).
Saturday workshops: 9am-3pm (If a first-timer, show up at 8:30 am for orientation).
Wednesday Mechanics Night: 12pm-7pm

Things We Need Done:

• Triage: assessing bicycle condition and noting needed work, identifying bikes to be passed on to other nonprofits or used as "donor bikes"
• Heavy Mechanical: wheels, chains, shifting, brakes, etc.
• Light Mechanical: replacing tires & tubes, minor adjustments
• Detailing: final cleanup and prep for donation
• Logistics: Moving and storing bikes as needed

Any help is appreciated. We can provide on-the-job training (quality based on how busy we are - Wednesdays are usually quieter than Saturdays).
For more info, contact AZAFAP at recycleyourbicycle@azafap.org or 602-884-1801, or fill out the online volunteer form.

Thanks!

JessieSayre

I got it, thanks for instructions!

RCMoeur 

I'm not entirely certain this is the right place to post this, but I'll put it here.

The good citizens of the Valley of the Sun were so generous in donating bicycles to our program...

<matchgameaudience> How generous were they?

...we have 1/3 of a warehouse of donated bicycles plus two full semi-trailers of donated bicycles that we're not going to have the manpower or time to get to this season - and at RYB we have no place to store them to use for next year's program. We have to find new homes for them in as-is condition by the end of 2022, or they all get scrapped as we have no other options. Fortunately, we're on track to be able to fulfill all requests from foster kids for fixed-up bikes this season - but we have so many more.

This is an example of a trailer we already processed. While this one was eventually sorted, we have two more still unopened and in this condition:



There's a wide mix of bicycles - nearly all post-1980, but a few 70s bikes or older might be there. Many kid's bikes, but probably 50% or more 26" + wheel adult bikes. Many big box or store-brand bikes, but also many name brand shop quality bikes (many Trek & Giant, plus Cannondale, Miyata, Specialized, etc.) There have been some extraordinarily nice road and mountain bikes in previous trailers - there's likely to be more, but we haven't been able to verify.

Since this is an all-volunteer operation, available hours are limited. We're usually there onsite Wednesdays noon-7 PM and Saturdays 8 AM - 3 PM.

And I'm terribly sorry, but with our volunteer limitations, we cannot:

• send photos of individual bikes
• look for or hold a specific type/model/brand/color/size of bike
• ship or deliver bikes, except local volume deliveries to other nonprofits when arranged in advance
• be there at other times than Wednesday afternoons or Saturdays

No warranties, all giveaways final. You have to come look, pick, and take in person (or send a friend). Donations of funds or volunteer time (especially bicycle repair) are not required but very gratefully accepted.

Location: Flite Goodyear, 1300 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ.

If there are any questions, please reply or contact me.

RCMoeur 

More pix of a small portion of what's available:

RCMoeur 

We survived 2022, and gave away close to 1,000 bicycles fixed up to like-new condition to foster kids & teens.

We're starting our planning for 2023, and are looking for volunteers. Same schedule as last year - bike collection in August, workshops Wed & Sat from September thru early December, and giveaway day in mid-December.

Misti

Wow, love this idea. Well done!