St John's Memorial Episcopal Church in Ramsey and Pedals for Progress (www.p4p.org) sponsored a used bike collection in May. A total of 160 bikes and four sewing machines were collected. The Upper Saddle River Scout Troop 133 worked with St. John's, collecting over 100 of the bicycles. In addition, the response from the surrounding communities was excellent. The donated bikes and sewing machines will be shipped to developing countries where the bikes are reconditioned by partner agencies and distributed at low cost to poor working adults for commuting to work. Steady employment for these adults is vial to the development and success of these economies. Children's bikes enable children to go to schools which may otherwise be too far from their homes. The sewing machines go to non-profit vocational education, small business, and community service programs. Due to the success of this year's event, St Johns will host another collection in the spring of 2015. St John's thanks everyone who helped us to accomplish this very successful event.
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