Sportswheels Pedals into the Hearts of Children

Sportswheels Peddles into the Hearts of Children
by Maritime
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    One in four children in Nova Scotia is unable to play organized sports much less own a bike. The Salvation Army is grateful to Sportswheels in Sackville, NS for peddling into the hearts of children with donated and refurbished bikes through its Giving Forward Together program. One hundred children in HRM happily received their own bike this summer, some for the first time.

    Tamara Smith is a parent who attends programs at The Salvation Army Community and Family Services Center in Dartmouth. She says, “I was over the moon when I learned that each of my children would be able to have a bike this summer; they ride them every day, we are forever grateful to Sportswheels and The Salvation Army.”

    This generous annual donation began five years ago with 30 bikes. Today, Sportswheels is committed to donating a minimum of 100 bikes each year for which over 120 hours was required to refurbish the bikes at a cost of $2,000 for parts and labour. In June, The Salvation Army’s Community Response Unit truck collected the bikes for distribution to children via the Centre of Hope on Gottingen Street and the Dartmouth Community and Family Services on Main Street.

    “We are so thrilled about the ongoing generosity of Sportswheels for collecting and taking the time to refurbish bikes for many children,” says Lieut. Shelley Oseil. “There are children across our communities that don’t have the luxury of riding a bike, many have never learned and we are blessed to put a smile on many faces.”

    Jeff Mayhew from Sportswheels, “It’s so powerful when a social business can team up with an organization like The Salvation Army to help keep youth active.” He adds, “Every product purchased at our store helps provide underprivileged and at risk youth with registration and/or equipment to participate in recreational sports; it’s shopping that actually makes a difference.”

    Over the last three years, 400 financially disadvantaged and at risk youth have been able to play Baseball, Lacrosse, Hockey, Ringette, Volleyball, Soccer and Cycling programs because of Giving Forward Together. For more information about this great program, visit https://www.sportwheels.ca/pages/kids-play-details-sportwheels