Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner
2007-05-30 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

Eldersburg, Md. -

Old Schwinns and Huffys will ride on to new lives this weekend as they evolve from recreational bicycles for Marylanders to economic engines for Central Americans.

Two Eldersburg churches have organized a bike collection on behalf of Bikes for the World, an Arlington, Va.-based nonprofit that ships bicycles to countries in Asia, South America and Central America to give people there a set of wheels.

“Lots of bikes are just sitting around, not being used for entertainment, and for these people in other countries, it’s a critical economic engine,” said Lorraine Racuse, a Johns Hopkins doctor and Marriottsville resident who volunteers for St. Joseph’s Catholic Community, which has partnered with Wesley Freedom United Methodist Church for the event. “The great thing about it is that it represents recycling.”

The bike drive’s aid to foreign countries is twofold: Jobs are created when overseas charities employ people to recondition the bikes as part of a developing cottage industry, and the recipients of the donated bicycles often rely on them as their primary mode of transportation to work, school and medical care.

All models are welcome and children’s bikes are accepted.

Donations of sewing machines also are encouraged, according to an e-mail sent to Wesley Freedom’s membership.

Last year, more than 6,000 bicycles from the region were sent overseas and a few weeks ago, 450 bikes went to a women’s business support group in Costa Rica.

If you go

» What: Bike collection

» When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday

» Where: St. Joseph’s Church, 915 Liberty Road, Eldersburg

» Information: 410-795-5019

kvolkmann@baltimoreexaminer.com