Volunteers needed for free kids bike giveaway
DETROIT - The Piston Group, in collaboration with Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K) Detroit, is calling for volunteers to help clean and repair donated bikes as part of the annual FB4K bike giveaway.
Since 2018, FB4K Detroit has given away nearly 5,000 bikes to local kids in need. Each bike includes a free, properly sized helmet.
“Giveaway day in December is one of the happiest days of the year,” said Bob Barnes, FB4K Detroit, Executive Director. “It’s so great to see the absolute joy on kids and teens faces when they receive their bikes. Parents and volunteers are smiling all day.”
In an update from Free Bikes 4 Kidz – the nonprofit recently collected more than 2,100 bikes to gift to children in Detroit (see attached photos!) thanks to community donations.
Now Free Bikes 4 Kidz is now seeking volunteers to help refurbish and restore the bikes before handing them off to the children who will be receiving them.
Volunteers of all skill levels are needed between October 2 and December 9 for cleaning and repair.
“Our collaboration with FB4K Detroit on behalf of our kids is an important priority for our company and our community,” said Piston Group Founder, Chairman, and CEO Vinnie Johnson. “We need hundreds of volunteers over the next three months, to help get the bikes ready. It’s a perfect opportunity for organizations or companies looking for a positive, charitable, team-building activity,” said Johnson.
Interested volunteers can go to fb4kdetroit.org to sign up for a three-hour volunteer shift. Volunteers will be matched to their skill levels. For COVID safety, volunteers will be asked to complete a brief health survey upon arrival and will need to wear a mask during their shift.
“Piston Group was honored to be able to donate 30,000 square feet of space in our facility to house this worthwhile effort. We hope companies from across the area will send volunteer teams to get these bikes ready for the December giveaway,” Johnson says.
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About Piston Group
Piston Group, comprising of Piston Automotive, Irvin Automotive Products, Detroit Thermal Systems, and AIREA, is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. It designs, engineers, assembles and manufactures a wide variety of automotive parts and systems. AIREA is an office design studio and furniture dealer. Piston Group was founded in 1995 by industry magnate and former NBA champion Vinnie Johnson, and is one of the largest private, minority-owned automotive suppliers in North America.
Today, Piston Group employs nearly 10,000 people at more than 20 locations across North America. Last year, the firm posted revenues of $2.9 billion. Visit www.pistongroup.com for more information.
About Free Bikes 4 Kids, Detroit
Free Bikes 4 Kidz Detroit is the eighth of 12 FB4K affiliates across the U.S. Since we began our mission here in Detroit in 2018, FB4K Detroit has given away almost 5,000 bikes to kids in need in our community. Visit FB4KDetroit.org for more information.
