Unused Bike in the Garage? Here's How You Can Donate It!

Patrick Manders of West Hartford will take those unused bicycles that are cluttering up your garage off your hands and donate them to a good cause.

Manders, a junior at Conard High School who is also an avid mountain biker and triathlete, decided to conduct a used bicycle drive for his Eagle Scout project.

"The rank of Eagle is the highest and most prestigious rank of Scouting. To achieve this rank a Scout must plan, organize, and manage a public service project. I chose to do this because I’ve biked for a long time and love it. I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on that great experience and opportunity for adventure and healthy habits because they were unable to own a bike," Manders wrote in a news release describing the project.

He chose to work with Bikes for Kids – a Connecticut non-profit that provides children, as well as adults, with bicycles that they otherwise could not afford. The organization has already delivered more than 14,000 bicycles, and Manders hopes his drive will deliver at least 100 more working bikes.

Manders will either coordinate pick-up of bicycles from your home, or they can be brought to his booth at West Hartford's first annual bicycle festival, "Wheel Fun Day," which will take place in the Town Hall parking lot on May 19.

With the assistance of parts and professional advice from local bike shops, the bikes will receive any necessary repairs. Manders hopes to deliver them to Bikes for Kids by June 1.

For more information, contact Manders at manderspatrick@gmail.com or 860-471-9498.