Got Extra Bikes Around? Donate Them in a Local Bike Drive for the Holidays

mother and son dressed as santa claus on a bicycle
Donate Your Bike to a Local Drive for the Holidayspaul mansfield photography - Getty Images

We love a real life Santa Claus story with a cycling twist. Take Ohio’s Dave Nugent, for instance: Every year, he collects thousands of bikes, refurbishes them, and distributes them to people in need. “It’s just something I do,” Nugent told WDTN News. “Every year it seems like there’s more demand for it.”

Last Saturday, he had hundreds of families lined up at his house to receive bikes for Christmas (plus a few presents, too!). Feeling the holiday giving spirit? Have some kiddie bikes collecting dust in the garage? Consider finding a local bike charity to donate them to this year—and clear out some space in your garage for that gear you bought on Black Friday.

Here are just a few of the bike drives and giveaways that we’ve spotted online—feel free to share one in your area in the comments below! The more bike charities that can help give the gift of freedom found on two wheels this holiday season, the better.

Community Cycles in Boulder, CO

This organization takes bike donations of all types, and your bike could be part of their Earn a Bike community initiative or go towards their Kids Holiday Bike Giveaway event, which has been going on for 16 years.
Info: https://communitycycles.org/donate/donate-a-bike/

Boys & Girls Club in Mercer, NJ

Accepting donations at Boys & Girls Clubs in NJ as well as participating bike shops. Local NJ cyclists can also set up their own donation drives for the charity.
Info: https://www.bgcmercer.org/bgc-bike-exchange#donate

The Bicycle Collective in Salt Lake City, Utah

Accepting bikes as well as bike gear—including helmets (that are in good condition), shoes and clothing. You can also set up your own donation drives for the Collective.
Info: https://bicyclecollective.org/pages/donate-bikes-and-parts-in-salt-lake-city

Community Bikeworks in Lehigh Valley, PA

Donate a bike—in any condition!—to Community Bike Works, where young people are able to ‘earn’ bikes through mentorship programs that teach bike safety and bike mechanics for kids aged 7 to 18. Bikes can be dropped Monday through Friday at the Allentown bike shops.
Info: https://communitybikeworks.org/contact#61d6fa95-5f83-4ea2-bf78-f29a9565f941

Bay Area Bicycle Rescue in Oakland, CA

The Bay Area Bicycle Rescue takes in bikes of all types and sizes, refurbishes them, and gives them out to anyone in need—at any age. As the nonprofit explains, "We started as a necessity for bicycle nonprofits and community shops that become saturated with used bike donations, while other charities struggle. Not many people think to donate bicycles to shelters or schools, but they often need them."

Info: https://www.bayareabicyclerescue.com/

The Re-Cyclery at Trips for Kids in Marin, CA

Donate the bikes your kiddos have outgrown to The Re-Cyclery at Trips for Kids, located in San Raphael, and you’ll be able to a) help get more kids on bikes—and learning to ride safely—and b) scoring a tax deduction in the process. Talk about a win-win! While some of the bikes are then sold at The Re-Cyclery thrift store, others are used for the kids’ programming the non-profit provides. Have a growing young cyclist? You also may consider donating their old bike and buying them a new (used) one in the same trip!

Info: https://www.tripsforkidsmarin.org/re-cyclery.html

Not near these spots?

If you have kid or adult gear (clothing, bike tools, mountain bikes or MTB-friendly accessories) that could fit high school aged kids, consider checking if there’s a NICA league or team in your area. These high school teams are often happy to take gently used bike gear, since many of the team members don’t have a ton of cycling kit or extra ‘stuff.’ (Don’t get in touch with the national head office, connect directly to your local team or league when possible.)

Don’t have a bike to donate? Consider donating some cash to World Bicycle Relief on Giving Tuesday instead. The organization provides basic bikes to underserved areas worldwide, creating access to school and work in rural communities.

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