Merry Christmas to All!
Ride for Bikes, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is excited to announce the plan to provide 512 bikes to children of Southeast New Mexico for the 2017 Christmas season. This year will be our 12th year of building and delivering bikes.
We have provided more than 4,100 bikes since our start of just 35 bikes in 2005. The goal this year is to give every kindergartener in Artesia and Lovington a brand-new, 20” bike. The year 2017 will also mark the first time we have a bike build happening in two locations. That’s right! We will be building bikes in both Artesia and Lovington on the same day.
To successfully accomplish our Christmas bike goal, the 2017 bike budget is approximately $27,000. We are asking for your help to meet this objective. This target is set so that no child is left out. Any dollar amount does make a difference and is greatly appreciated. If you are fortunate to be able to generously donate, please do. The cost of one bike is only $50 and brings years of joy to a child. So ask yourself, how many can you buy?
To donate to the Ride for Bikes Christmas bike program, send a check to the address below or donate online via credit card or PayPal at our secure website, www.rideforbikes.com. We encourage you to explore the program by viewing the pictures and videos of the bike builds and deliveries of years past. You will witness a community of volunteers building bikes and the very grateful expressions of all the children receiving the bikes. The website also has additional information regarding bike building and how to get involved.
Checks should be made payable to “Ride for Bikes GAF” and mailed to:
Greater Artesia Foundation
P.O. Box 1344
Artesia, N.M. 88211-1344
As always, this requires many hands and many trailers. It takes between 100 and 140 people to assemble and deliver bikes at each location. So we need you to volunteer to help assemble bikes. We are also in need of large, covered horse trailers to transport bikes for the day.
Please contact Don Greetan at 575-703-0537 if you have a trailer for use.
We invite everyone to become a part of this community by assisting in assembling the bikes for the children. We will be assembling and delivering the finished bikes at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. The two events will be held at the Artesia Center, 612 N. Eighth St., and Llano Elementary in Lovington, 1000 S. First St. This is a great way for families, companies, churches, or individuals to unite together to be the difference for the children in our communities.
Simple tools are required, open and box-end metric wrenches, 10mm to 15mm, and Phillips screwdrivers. Don’t worry if you have not yet put a bike together; there’s a job for everyone. Please contact us at info@rideforbikes.com to become a volunteer or check out our website www.rideforbikes.com for more information.
So what can you do to help? That is something we hope you truly think about. We are very happy with all the participants for what they do for the children in our community. All of this is only possible with your help. Please share this with those you think would be interested in donating or volunteering. Thank you.
