Christmas and Kwanzaa were nearly two weeks away, but the halls of Carver Center were alive with the sound of children running and shouting about their new bikes, which were on the way.
By Jon Craig
Christmas and Kwanzaa were nearly two weeks away, but the halls of Carver Center were alive with the sound of children running and shouting about their new bikes, which were on the way.
Nearly 30 slightly used or sparkling new bicycles were collected, or purchased using donations, by Linking Handlebars Inc., a nonprofit organization founded last year by four Rye High students.
“This is a lifelong program,” said RHS junior Lucia Villani.
Villani was joined by her younger sister, Cristiana, and fellow sophomores Bridget Salice and Jenna Cammisa in rounding up used bikes — and collecting money to buy additional new ones — to meet the needs of area children.
Their mission: “To promote a healthier lifestyle for needy children through the distribution of bicycles and to provide these simple privileges to children who would not otherwise enjoy them.”
An eager string of smiling children lined up at the Port Chester center last month to claim their bikes, and colorful bike helmets, which, one-by-one, they tried out with cheerful help from four RHS “Santa helpers.”
The Rye teenagers also have volunteered with Part of the Solution (POTS) — a soup kitchen in the Bronx — and Helping Hands for the Homeless and Hungry, experiencing the joy of helping their neighbors, especially children.
For more details on the Rye charity, go to www.linkinghandlebars.org.
