The Wheatley Afri-Bike Coalition (A.B.C.) will be accepting bicycles, bike parts, helmets, locks, and tools as well as monetary donations for shipping to send to rural areas in Ghana and Sierra Leone, West Africa.
The coalition will be working in coordination with the Village Bike Project (www.Ghanabikes.org), a non-profit organization. The collection schedule for this month is Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Wheatley School, 11 Bacon Rd., Old Westbury.
The Wheatley School A.B.C. is a large group of high school students, including those from the Roslyn area, who are members of many collaborating clubs, led by The Wheatley Environmental Action Committee. Since 1999, The Wheatley Afri-Bike Coalition has collected, processed, and sent over 2,500 bikes to Ghana.
For residents of Ghana, bikes are economical, environmentally friendly, and easier to repair and maintain than cars. Bicycles increase access to school, work, market place and health care and help rural Ghanains to help themselves.
Bikes of any size or condition will be accepted, as well as all bike-related parts, tools, and accessories. A.B.C. is also looking for anyone interested in running their own collection to assist in reaching our goal: To collect 500 bikes to fill a 40-ft. shipping container. Shipping will cost over $5,000 – about $10 per bicycle. Monetary contributions will also be accepted or can be mailed to the school.
Mail checks (tax-deductible) payable to Wheatley EAC/Afribike to:
The Wheatley School
11 Bacon Road
Old Westbury, NY 11568
Attention EAC/AfriBike
For more information go to www.ghanabikes.org or contact Steven Finkelstein at 516-458-7044 or email him at finkelsteins@ewsdonline.org.
— Submitted by The East Williston School District
