Free Bikes 4 Kidz is a nonprofit on a mission to make sure all kids have access to a childhood joy: their very own bicycle.
The organization began in Minneapolis in 2008, and the Madison chapter came to life in 2016 when executive director Andy Quandt was looking for a way to give back to the community during the slower season of his own bicycle shop, Gib’s Bike Shop, and mobile repair service, The Bikemobile.
Since then, FB4K has placed thousands of bikes into the hands of kids in the Madison community. They do this by accepting donated bikes over the span of several months at the start of each year. Next, staff and volunteers get to work cleaning up and repairing the bikes, which are then distributed during a giveaway day that takes place in March. The bikes are given to kids affiliated with partner organizations that apply for the program, such as community centers, schools, faith groups, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
Andy shares more on the organization and its vision.
Why is having a bike such an important asset to one’s childhood?
I always look at it like, first you have your teddy bear, and then your driver’s license, but the big thing in between is your bicycle. It’s a sense of freedom. For those of us lucky enough to have had a bike when we were younger, it was a machine given to us to that provided a lot of opportunity.
How old were you when you learned to ride a bike?
I was probably five or six. I was given a bike before I knew how to ride it. It motivated me to learn how to ride it.
Is there anyone in particular that sticks out in your mind who benefited from FB4K?
We had a kid in the program who already had a bike, and his dad had a bike, and they loved to go on bike rides together, but his mom never got to go because she didn’t have a bike. So when it came to distribution day, this kid asked if he could pick out a bike for his mom, and we said yes, of course, absolutely. That’s as much as we can hope to accomplish.
What are the aspirations for FB4K in the years to come?
Our first season, we gave away 400 bikes, and we were really just winging it. Last year we gave away 1,100 bikes, and it was more effort but we received more funding and started to gain more traction. This year our goal was 3,000 bikes and on our bike collection day we received 1,150 bikes. Long-term, we just do the best we can do to ensure any kid who wants a bike has access to their very own bike.
Is there still time for folks to donate bikes in time for the giveaway day on March 24th?
Yes, bicycles will be accepted until March 1st. Bicycles can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 4546 Verona Rd. next to Home Depot.
How else can community members get involved?
There’s a huge volunteer base that we rely on, and anyone can volunteer. We need volunteers to clean bikes, prep the bikes and more. We love when big groups come in: employer groups, faith groups, teams. Financial donations are another big help.
Want to learn more or get involved? Visit FB4KMadison.org.
– Megan Kulick