In response to the devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the gulf coast, sometimes help comes in the form of a bicycle.
Ernie’s Cycle Shop on Conant Street is working with Bikes for the Bayou, an organization established to help collect, refurbish and ship bikes to hurricane evacuees that are currently facing transportation issues. Residents who have a bike they wish to donate to the effort can bring it to Ernie’s by this Friday, Dec. 9.
Bikes for the Bayou is seeking to collect more than 400 bikes and $5,000 to send down to the gulf coast. The bikes would be used for people in the area to get to appointments, jobs, grocery stores and for recreational use. Bikes for the Bayou is part of a national effort organized by the Texas Bicycle Coalition: Bike Aid and the local effort is being coordinated by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and the Community Bicycle Center in Biddeford.
The organization is sponsoring a staging event for shipping the bikes to the gulf coast at the Saco Armory on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The group is looking for volunteers to help clean bikes, pump tires and flatten the bikes for shipping.
Donations of bikes or money may be made to the Saco Armory or to Ernie’s Cycle Shop at 105 Conant St. For more information, call Ernie’s Cycle Shop at 854-4090.
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