Schools

Pedals for Progress Collection on Saturday at SBHS

Donate used bikes, sporting equipment and sewing machines to provide transportation and employment to the less fortunate in other countries.

Pedals for Progress will hold its annual collection in the township on Saturday at South Brunswick High School. 

to developing nations to be given to poor people in need of cheap transportation to get to jobs, markets and schools.  

"This provides people with a non-polluting means of transportation to carry goods, get to school or work, and gives a big leg up to these people instead of a handout," Constable Elementary School second grade teacher Devon Smith, who coordinates the drive in South Brunswick. "It helps to strengthen business and education in these developing nations and it helps stimulate the economy."

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pedals for Progress also accepts donations of used sewing machines and sporting equipment to be sent to developing nations as well.  The program has sent over 125,000 bicycles, 1,000 used sewing machines and $10.8 million in new spare parts to partner charities in 32 developing countries. 

Last year in South Brunswick, the group collected 108 bicycles, $1,260 in monetary donations, 20 sewing machines and three bags of soccer equipment. Pedals for Progress has also raised $17,000 locally to help defray the approximately $30 to $40 per bike shipping cost.

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On June 2, the official date for the Pedals for Progress collection, there will also be an area for the cleat exchange where families can again come and take free cleats. The cleats have been cleaned and sprayed, and are sorted by size and sport.  

The drive also accepts donated spare parts for bikes like tires, chains, handle bars and seats. The donated sewing machines allow women in other countries to attend seminars to learn the trade.  At the conclusion of the seminar, they’re given the sewing machine they worked on all week as a surprise gift.

Any country with an organization who will sponsor the collection, storage and assembly of the bikes can participate in Pedals for Progress.  The donated bikes are auctioned off for a small amount, which is then used to operate a bike shop to handle repairs and maintenance. Those who can’t afford to pay for a bike can work off the fee in the bike store.  This also helps teach those who buy the bikes to fix it themselves. 

The collection drive will be held this year on June 2, at the South Brunswick High School gym parking lot, from noon to 3 p.m. Items for collection should be accompanied by a check to Pedals for Progress to help cover shipping costs.  

Receipts for tax purposes are available. For additional information, contact Smith at Devon.Smith@sbschools.org.

Click here for more information on Pedals for Progress.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here