What also adds up of course is the gratification of doing something worthwhile with something that could just as easily have been chucked into the trash as worthless. That’s certainly part of why Wheels For Kids has such a dedicated volunteer staff, as is the fact that all of us love cycling and believe it’s a perfect activity for all kids.
But all of our volunteer bike mechanics also have personal reasons for donating their time. The mechanic who worked on this bike, for example, when asked what it’s like to fix up a bike for someone he doesn’t know and most likely will never meet, had this to say:
“The little girl who gets this bike, whoever she is, is somebody’s daughter; she’s somebody’s granddaughter. I have two granddaughters of my own, Gracie and Katelyn, 4 and 6 years old. When I’m working on a bike like this one, they’re very much on my mind. I just keep working on it until it’s something I’d feel good about giving to one of them.”