Bikes for the World Turns 20!

Celebrating 20 years of bikes! Bikes for the World, and partner MiBici in Costa Rica, were both formed in 2005, marking this as our 20th year of rescuing and reusing bikes. As you know back in August we loaded this Cannondale, our 200,000th bike, which was our kick off to our 20 year celebration. In October it arrived with MiBici and was donated to its new owner. In that container we also donated our 1,000th sewing machine to María (seen above in the blue shirt).

So much to celebrate and remember over our 20 years as Bikes for the World. On October 26th we had a small gathering at our warehouse to thank some of our longest serving volunteer groups as well as some of our newest volunteers. It's no secret that an organization run by three paid staff members could never turn around the 12,000 bikes annually that we do without the help of thousands of volunteers every single year.

Some of the folks in attendance were with us in August when we loaded that 200k bike in the container. Some we hadn't seen in years and some we see every single week when they come and help us get bikes and parts ready to donate. We gave out free water bottles and also honored some of those dedicated volunteers with commemorative coins that thank them and honor our 20 years. 

One of the highlights we recognized was the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek's crossing 7,000 bikes donated to date. Otterbein United Methodist Church out of Hagerstown is our second largest group with 5,000 bikes donated. They are also one of the biggest donors of sewing machines and provided the 1,000th machine in this shipment. Rounding out the top five collection sites honored during the celebration were the Western Maryland Wheelmen/Cumberland Rotary 3,500, Wesley Freedom United Methodist Church 2,800, and St. Mary of Sorrows with 1,600. 

There are several other groups recognized who have been collecting bikes with us for (in some cases more than) 20 years. Stand outs are Beth El Congregation in Bethesda, Sherwood High School, Trinity United Methodist Church in Alexandria, St. Paul's Community in Damascus, and Falls Church Recycling. 

You can find photos from the event here.