100 Bikes Assembled in One Night at Charity Bike-Build

One night; one-hundred bikes.

That can only mean one thing: Pine Street Carpenters’ annual charity bike-build, when the local remodeling firm assembles 100 bikes for deserving children in the community. It’s called “The 100 Wheels Project,” and the 8th annual event was held December 10.

It’s an initiative that has resulted in the delivery of 637 bikes to deserving children in the region since the project started in 2008. Over 100 people – Pine Street employees, clients, trade partners, and members of the cycling community – will gather at Pine Street’s shop in West Chester next Thursday evening for a bike-building party.

“The 100 Wheels Project” is an initiative that has resulted in the delivery of 637 bikes to deserving children in the region since the project started in 2008. The 8th annual bike-build was held this past Thursday, and by all accounts it was a great success.

“Within just a few hours, all 100 bikes were assembled and ready for delivery to our non-profit partners,” explained Mike Dolan, marketing manager for Pine Street Carpenters and The Kitchen Studio at Pine Street. “It’s an amazing experience to see how much can be accomplished within such a short time, and we are so grateful to our clients, trade partners, and the cycling community for their support.”

In the months leading up to bike-build, Pine Street Carpenters worked with local social service agencies and non-profit organizations to identify families and children in need. Bikes were purchased for each child identified, and once assembled, delivered to the local organizations. Some organizations distribute the bikes at holiday parties; others work with parents to make sure a shiny new bike makes its way next to the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

“I can’t tell you how excited the parents are,” said Margie Glah, Program Assistant for Family Services of Chester County. “A number of these kids have never owned a bike and probably never would have if not for this program.”

This year, Pine Street partnered with eight local non-profits: Family Services of Chester County (West Chester); Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children (West Chester); The Care Center (West Chester); Chester County Family Academy (West Chester); La Comunidad Hispana (Kennett Square); Family Services of Montgomery County (Norristown); Stewart Middle School (Norristown); and Home of the Sparrow (Exton).

“Each of these organizations provides much needed services to families in the community,” says Brendon Dolan, owner of Pine Street Carpenters. “Thanks to our staff, customers, colleagues, and friends, these bicycles will make it to children in their care just in time for the holidays.”

In addition to bikes, helmets and bike locks were also donated to accompany many of the bicycles. Through a grant provided by the Kohl’s Healthy Kids Injury Prevention Program at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 85 helmets were provided for this year’s “100 Wheels Project.” Additional helmets were donated by individuals and friends of Pine Street.

Local businesses and organizations supporting this year’s event included Pennsy Corp., Brothers Pizza, Mop-Ups Cleaning Services, Chapman Windows and Doors, O’Rourke Steel, Allen Cook’s Barber Shop, all of West Chester; Mar-John Masonry of Kennett Square; Lambert Spawn of Coatesville; and D’Antonio Electrical Contractors of Concordville.

To learn more about “The 100 Wheels Project,” visit www.bikebuild.org.