Lions to Collect Bikes and Sewing Machines

By Bob Pam
They say it takes a village to raise a child. To do something good seems to take many villages.
The Norfolk Lions Club is planning to repeat a successful partnership project carried out last year by collecting bicycles and sewing machines for use in poor countries around the world. Their partner is Pedals for Progress (www.p4p.org), a non-profit group that has collected and shipped nearly 125,000 bicycles to 32 countries including Nicaragua, Ghana, Moldova, Sierra Leone and Guatemala. The bicycles are repaired and sold at low cost by local non profits to people who use them to get to work, carry goods, go to school, etc.
The Lions will be accepting bicycles, adult or child size, all types, from now until April 25. Donated bikes should be generally rust-free, though flat tires and those in need of some repairs are acceptable. The Town of Norfolk allows the Lions Club to store the bicycles in the empty building next to Town Hall until they are taken to Holcomb Farm in West Granby, the collection point for this area. Holcomb Farm is a non-profit center that functions as a working farm. Operated as a community supported agriculture enterprise, the farm offers space for educational and civic presentations and runs environmental and agricultural programs that, in their words, “explore and celebrate the natural world.” Volunteers with trucks are being recruited to help transport the bikes to Holcomb Farm.
Pedals for Progress is now also collecting sewing machines in working condition, preferably portables. Their usefulness is obvious, and they are far easier to ship than the bicycles. Their website reports they have sent over 1,000 machines to 11 countries since they began collecting them in 2009.
Cleaning, repairing, transporting and shipping the bikes cost about $35 each, so Pedals for Progress requests a minimum $10 donation for each bicycle donated. Last year the Norfolk Lions covered this contribution. All donations are tax deductible, and receipts are given.
Donations of bicycles, sewing machines or money may be made by contacting Lions Club President Bob Pam at 860-542-3999 or Vice President Charlie Yard at 860-542-6077.