Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) —While the State Fairgrounds appear to be empty during the State Fair’s offseason, volunteers are still going every day. Not for reasons related to the fair, but to work for the CNY Bicycle Giveaway Foundation, a foundation that gives thousands of bikes away every year to local families that can’t afford them. It is facilitated by Jan Maloff, the foundation’s Corporate Officer.
The foundation became an official charity in 2007, but started before then. In their mission statement on their website, the foundation prides itself on providing bikes so families have an activity that they can do together, as well as an added benefit of a healthier lifestyle. They have partnered with local law enforcement to improve the relationship between the police and their community according to the foundation’s website. Gina Scaia has been volunteering for the foundation for multiple years and she said the foundation gave away over 4,000 bikes last year.
Scaia is able to embody the foundation’s purpose through a question which she gives with a smile, “Who doesn’t want a bike?”
However, the foundation is also asking for monetary donations. While bikes are the name of their game, they need additional donations to purchase products that can’t be found on a bike such as cleaning supplies to help refurbish them. With costs of resources such as oil rising, the foundation is in need of money as well as bikes.
Despite this, the foundation will continue to collect bikes until they are given away on December 17th at George Fowler High school starting at 10 a.m., so members of the local community can enjoy a holiday gift.
Jaden Gerard: While the State Fairgrounds are known for holding the New York State Fair every year, it is currently home to the CNY Bicycle Giveaway Foundation. Tons of bikes are lined up in the Agriculture Building at the Fairgrounds where volunteers go everyday to repair and refurbish the bikes that will be given away to those who can’t afford them. Long-time volunteer Gina Scaia is happy to be able to provide local children with a gift for the holiday season.
Gina Scaia: Sometimes they don’t get anything else for Christmas and this is a big surprise for them. And we usually try to make sure they’re all cleaned up, and cleaned up off the rust and stuff on em, everything is cleaned up and shiny and a kid to get a nice, shiny bike. Who doesn’t want a bike?”
Gerard: Retired salesman Bill Bouchard has donated six bikes to the foundation over the years as his children and grandchildren have outgrown them. He believes the foundation is the best place to donate a bike and he is in full support of the foundation’s mission.
Bill Bouchard: Every kid should have a bike and I just wanna pass it down and make sure they do.
Gerard: Scaia says that her favorite part of volunteering for the foundation is the camaraderie between all the volunteers who come to work.
Scaia: Everybody’s nice, everybody gets along here. We all cohabitate together, they’ve been putting up with me.
Gerard: I may not be dressed in the proper attire, but i am very tempted to grab one of these bikes like this one and start riding it around here. However, on December 17th people in need will be able to go to George Fowler High school in Syracuse to pick up a bike and begin riding it as one of their own. For N-C-C News, I’m Jaden Gerard.
