Community Corner: Santa Clara Nonprofit Donates Bikes To Needy Kids
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - A local nonprofit is dedicated to donating bicycles to all needy children in Santa Clara County. Sue Runsvold, a nurse at Valley Medical Center, founded TurningWheels For Kids with a group of ten people in 2005. The San Jose-based nonprofit has since grown and has donated 11,000 bikes to local kids.
KCBS' Connie C. Kim interviews Sun Runsvold:
The organization receives a good deal on brand new bikes from Raleigh America and Dynacraft Bicycles that they donate to the children of Santa Clara County.
A partnership with local agencies such as Catholic Charities, Bay Area Rescue Mission, City Team Ministries, San Jose Fire Department and San Jose Family Shelter helps get the bikes to those who need it most.
"The response from the kids receiving new bikes is precious," Runsvold said.
Every year for Christmas, TurningWheels builds 2,400 brand new bikes with the help of 800 volunteers, and charities come by to pick up bikes all day long to distribute to their clients.
One little boy wrote in a thank you note, "I don't really believe in Santa Claus. I believe in people like you who care about kids like us."
The group also runs bike repair clinics. Their "bike doctors" go to low-income neighborhoods, where kids come out to get their bikes fixed.
Runsvold said there are always some kids that show up who don't have bikes. In this case, they get refurbished bikes, so everyone's leaving on wheels.
A 30-minute clinic usually extends to 4 to 6 hours because as Runsvold puts it, "The kids love talking and they love showing us tricks they can do on their bikes and it turns out every time being just a remarkably fun day."
To entice kids back outside in this day of texting, computers, TV, and the epidemic of overweight kids is very rewarding, Runsvold said.
In their latest endeavor, TurningWheels just began a new campaign called Buck for a Bike. Their goal is to raise $1.7 million (which could be achieved if every one of Santa Clara County's 1.7 million residents donated just one dollar), to build a bicycle endowment fund. They hope to raise enough money to provide at least 3,400 bicycles for needy kids to meet demand in Santa Clara County.
"We're not asking for a lot of money. We're asking for a little bit of money from a lot of people," Runsvold said.
The campaign runs through December.
To find out how you can get involved go to turningwheelsforkids.org.
Visitors can see videos of local community leaders sharing their "My First Bike" stories at www.buckforabike.org. Residents of Santa Clara County are also encouraged to contribute their "My First Bike" stories that may be posted on the website as well.
Join the Buck for a Bike Campaign today!
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