Build-a-bike: Volunteers encourage kids to get outside, ride
CRANBERRY TWP — United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania has partnered with 150 volunteers across three local counties to promote healthy habits for children with its Build-a-Bike event.
Spanning three days in Westmoreland, Butler and Allegheny counties, volunteers from MSA Safety, Hefren-Tillotson, XTO Energy and Butler County Community College each build 10 bikes in teams of five, hoping to total 100 bikes each day.
“It's heartwarming to know that maybe these kids who haven't had a new bike in a long time, or maybe don't have a bike at all, will be getting one in the next couple days,” said Becky Gales, leader of the MSA Safety team, on Thursday.
Amy Franz, region director for United Way, said that the initiative this summer, Welcome Back Summer 2021, will ensure youths have the in-person experiences they may have missed out on last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It gets the kids out and, hopefully, teaches them that if they aren't as skilled with their bikes, that maybe they can,” Franz said. “It gives them physical activity in the sunshine and off the screens.”
The event originated in Allegheny County, but Franz said that is this first time the United Way has been able to expand it over three different build sites and construct 300 bikes in the span of three days, doubling the number from 2019.“Part of the physical activity helps the learning, and helps the brain develop new pathways,” Franz said Thursday, the second day of the program. “By being out and getting exercise, it will lead to better performance in school and just general mood lifting.”With 10 teams positioned around the Jaycees Shelter in Cranberry Park, Franz said that she likes to see teamwork and selflessness.“People are coming together to make sure that a child has a bike and a good experience this summer,” Franz said. “With the hiatus of in-person volunteering, there is an energy to be here. It's great to be out, and hopefully it is the start of bringing activities like this back.”
Gales, MSA Safety's liaison with the United Way, said the two groups have partnered for a long time through annual events and others throughout the year, but saw the Build-a-Bike event as a great opportunity.The company had an overwhelming response to the request for volunteers and had to limit the event to the first people who signed up.Dina Fricke, part of the Butler County Community College team, said that with everybody stuck inside during the past year because of the pandemic, she was excited to participate.“We're opening up the world, and reminding the kids that they weren't forgotten,” Fricke said.United Way worked to gather funds and award grants to organizations with programs that would bring children back into summer programming.“These grants helped with making sure the programs have the right staff, personal protection equipment and transportation,” Franz said. “(These kids) will have an experience that is more typical of what summer break is meant for kids.”
