Hundreds Of Kids Benefit From Bike Drive

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Every kid wants a bicycle of their own, and volunteers and donors in Western Pennsylvania are making that possible for many who couldn't otherwise afford one.

Hundreds of bicycles arrived at the Wildwood Country Club in Allison Park Thursday morning.

401 bikes, large and small, were unloaded by some 85 volunteers.

Al's Bike Drive brings new wheels to disadvantaged youngsters.

Al Todd started Al's Bike Drive for disadvantaged youngsters six years ago, in cooperation with the U-S Marines Toys for Tots campaign.

"The Marines' program, they're only allowed to buy a toy up to thirty dollars from what's donated," Todd says. "So bigger items, such as bicycles, have to be donated. So we decided we'd get together and donate some bikes."

He says the grass roots campaign netted bicycles from two hundred donors.

"These bikes are donated to two different groups of Marines, who spread them out over seven different counties surrounding Allegheny."

Gunnery Sergeant Kevin Geppert is the coordinator for Toys for Tots in Springdale.

"It really hits home, to see the kids smile," Sergeant Geppert says. "And some of them come down and pick up the bikes with their mother. The smile on their face is overwhelming."

The other Marine collection site is in Beaver.

One by one, the bikes roll in, a seemingly endless procession - guaranteeing a happy holiday to hundreds of area children. It's a heartwarming task on a very cold day.

"I look at all the people here today," Al Todd says, "and I look at what we're accomplishing. It's terrific."

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