Milford's First Cycle Studio Supports Youth Center Toy Drive

MILFORD, MA- The Milford Youth Center hosts a toy drive during the holiday season every year, but this year they have a helping hand. Cyclebar, the towns first cycle-only studio, has teamed up with the youth center to collect toys for neighborhood kids.

Cyclebar just opened in November and jumped at the chance to help. "We're always looking for opportunities to help the local community," John DiChiaro said, one of the owners of Cyclebar. When Cyclebar member Katie Covell began telling the staff about her work in the community center, the studio thought it was the perfect place to help.

A big donation box was placed in front of Cyclebar's reception desk. To encourage donations, the studio offered free rides in exchange for a toy in the donation box. Within their first few weeks of promoting the toy drive the studio had 12 participants.

The toys collected are given to kids hand picked by the youth center, who otherwise may not have a Christmas at all. Cyclebar isn't the only local business offering holiday joy. Organizations like United Way Of Tri-County, the Waters Corporation, Inspire Dance Academy and some local gyms have volunteered to sponsor a child in the center for the holidays.

Each child being sponsored is asked to create a wish list that is broken into four categories: something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. "It just breaks your heart because you see some of these kids write down socks and t-shirts, just things you don't think about," Covell said. Most years the center is limited in how many kids they can include in the event, but this year is special. "We were able to include some siblings of the kids being sponsored this year, it's great," Covell said. In past years, she had received lists from kids asking for extra gifts to give to a sibling at home.

A few days before the kids start their holiday break, the center holds a special party to celebrate the holidays and give the kids their gifts. They sit together and wait until everyone has a present to unwrap. Seeing the kids so overwhelmed with excitement is gift enough for youth center workers like Covell.

Photo Credit: Renee Schiavone/Patch