Gears For Years

Gears For Years is a Keep It Together Florida Inc. program that provides helmets and bicycles to children and teaches them life skills of how to assemble and maintain their equipment for years to come. Currently there is a need for regional volunteers to collect and organize donations.

Our 2013 event will be June 9th at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center. You can sign up as a volunteer here:

We are on track for our bike collection goal, however we are in need of volunteers to help fix up bikes prior to the event and volunteers to help at the event. We have a shortage in funding for ordering parts, helmets, and locks.  You can make a monetary donation by using our paypal link, or drop off items at any St. Johns County Fire Station.

 

 We are currently collecting bikes, of all sizes. They do not have to be in working order to donate them. Bikes will be collected and refurbished through May 2013 when the “Gears for Years” kickoff event will happen. Our goal is have 100 bikes to give away. At the event, children will be matched up with an appropriate sized bike and paired with a volunteer. The volunteer will then help the child assemble the bike (see matrix below). Our hope is to teach kids life skills about valuing equipment and pride of ownership,(they have to do a little work on the bike to get it going before we give it to them), how to use tools (under supervision of the volunteer of course), when something breaks you don't need to throw it away, you can fix it.

 

 Bike assembly required (general guidelines)

 

Kids 2-5 years oldup to 32" tall 4-9 years old
32 - 45" tall		 8 - 12 years old
45 - 55" tall		 Teen & adult
55" tall and up
Bike Size 12" wheel bike 16 & 18 " wheel bike 20" wheel bike 24 & 26" wheel bike
Skills Learned
  • Pump up a flat tire
  • paint & decals
  • Patch and install a tire tube
  • put a chain back on that has come off
  • paint & decals
  • patch and install a tire tube
  • put a chain back on that has come off
  • hook up brakes
  • paint & decals
  • Assembly of bike from components in a kit
  • paint & decals

 

 

Get involved Currently we need:

  • Bikes, new helmets, and bike lock setups - Goal is 100 bikes to give away in May 2013
  • Regional managers to pick up bikes from drop off sites and assess repairs required so parts can be ordered
  • Office volunteers who can help with administrative functions - there are even quite small opportunities available here even if you only have a spare hour - we have a way that you can help
  • Bike parts, tool-kits, tire pumps, paint, decals
In today's busy times we don't always take the time to help when we can. Please consider volunteering your time, either in the prep phase (collecting, assessing, repairing, & assembling bike kits for bikes donated), helping with some of the office work (improving the website, designing flyers and organizing promotions), or at the event, as a volunteer to help teach a child some life skills in assembly of his or her new bike, help organize, cook food at the lunch etc. There are so many rewarding ways to get involved and help, most of which do not take a large time commitment. You will find the reward of volunteering far outweigh your cost.
 










 

   This QR code will bring your smartphone to the gears for years home page

 

   
   

Not all of us can give time as a volunteer. If you would like to make an impact and be involved consider donating some of the items we need or use the button below to make a cash donation.

 

How to donate:

 

Login Form

©2013 Gears For Years