Wheels For Kids
If you have any questions about Wheels For Kids contact Lisa Terfehr by phone (612-867-0516) or Email at Lgtdstreet@comcast.net
WHEELS FOR KIDS 2023 SUMMARY
2023 was a banner year for Wheels for Kids. Judging by the numbers, it was a very productive year, providing practical transportation for many to school and work, as well as joy for those who received their first bike and those who rode again after going without a bike for years. WFK volunteers refurbished and donated 543 bikes to partner organizations; the 2nd highest number of bikes in WFK’s history. Wow! Just think of the joy, fun and basic transportation experienced by the recipients!
Below is a list of the partner organizations Wheels for Kids helped in 2023:
- Arizona Children’s Association Kinship
- Aviva Family and Childrens Services
- Tucson Boys and Girls Clubs
- Bicycle Inter-Community Art Salvage (BICAS)
- Casa de los Ninos
- Casey Family Foundation
- Catholic Community Services
- Christian Family Care
- El Grupo Emerge
- Center Against Domestic Abuse
- GAP Ministries
- Gospel Rescue Mission
- International Rescue Committee
- Literacy Connects
- Lutheran Social Services
- More Than a Bed
- Owl and Panther
- Pima County
- Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center
- SCOV Seniors for Kids Club
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Youth on Their Own
Wheels for Kids is supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who contribute in a myriad of ways to help dreams come true. Those jobs range from picking up donated bikes, ordering and stocking parts to be used fixing bikes, refurbishing the bikes, quality control review of bikes, communicating with partner organizations, delivering bikes to partner organizations and more. If you’d like to join the best volunteer opportunity in town, please contact Lisa Terfehr (612-867-0516) and find out how your time and talents can contribute to the magic Wheels for Kids creates!
Wheels For Kids Celebrates its 4,000th bike delivery!
Wheels For Kids (WFK) was founded by Dick Swain in 2007 with a vision: “To put a smile on the face of kids who didn’t think they would ever get to experience the joy of riding their own bike”
To date WFK has delivered over 4,000 bikes. We regularly partner with over 20 charitable organizations in greater Tucson. Some of those are: More Than a Bed, Boys and Girls Club, Gospel Rescue Mission, Refugee Focus, Youth On Their Own, and IMPACT Of Southern Arizona.
WFK is an all volunteer, non-profit organization that collects used bikes, completely overhauls them, ensures they work well, look good and are safe to operate – and then, through partner charitable organizations, gives them to deserving kids, teens and adults in greater Tucson. Safety is our highest priority so we also provide helmets and locks with the bikes. From a modest beginning of 10 kindred spirits it has grown to over 40 volunteers today. The majority of those volunteers are members of the Vistoso Cycling Club.
Mechanics got together to repair 8 bikes on Dec 11 … just in time for Christmas.
Hello everyone!
Such good news to report on Wheels For Kids activity since May. Over the summer, we had a crew of volunteers picking up bikes, delivering bikes and several mechanics working on bikes. We are blessed to have year-round volunteers who continue the good work of WFK over the summer when the majority of our volunteers head out. You know who you are – thank you!
June through October, 86 bikes were delivered and so far in November, we delivered 15. Some of our partners who received these bikes include Aviva Family and Children’s Services, Casa de los Ninos, Boys and Girls Club and Refugee and Immigration Services at both Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Community Services. Our partners are always VERY HAPPY to see us and express their gratitude with smiles, high fives and hugs!
This weekend there will be a pod party where our devoted mechanics will produce bikes for a delivery to More Than a Bed next week. A big shout out to our mechanics, without whom, there would be no Wheels for Kids.
We are blessed by all our volunteers who share their talents, time and heart to make a difference in our community. If you know of someone who might be interested in supporting Wheels for Kids, please refer them to our website (www.azwfk.org) and/or have them contact Lisa or Tom Terfehr (520-789-7243).
Thank you all.
Lisa