THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412070488
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ESTHER DISKIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Got an old bicycle or tricycle gathering dust somewhere? Get into re-cycling this Christmas season.
A-1 Beach Bikes, at 4702 Virginia Beach Blvd., and Operation Blessing have kicked off their ``Bikes for Tykes'' program to pull old bikes out of retirement, fix them up and deliver them to kids whose families can't afford Christmas gifts.
And if you think your bike is too rusty or dented to be worth anything, think again.
``We'll take it in almost any condition - if we can't fix it, we'll salvage the parts,'' said Glenn Daniels, owner of A-1 Beach Bikes. ``It's really nice knowing that we'll be able to provide for people that can't buy things for themselves.''
People who bring in old bikes get a bit of Christmas cheer: A coupon gives the donor 10 percent off anything in Daniels' three cycling stores, from bicycles to helmets.
Daniels has five mechanics at the store who work their magic to get old bicycles, tricycles and scooters rolling again. Then he turns them over to Operation Blessing, the humanitarian arm of Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network, which distributes them to families.
Operation Blessing already has a list of needy families in Hampton Roads and has worked with churches and social service agencies to find other families who qualify. Families may call 523-1149 for an application, which must be returned by Dec. 23.
Bikes - in child and adult sizes - can be donated through Dec. 24 at any of Daniels' three shops:
A-1 Beach Bikes, 4702 Virginia Beach Blvd., across from Fuddruckers. Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pedal Power at Hilltop North Shopping Center. Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bike Stop at Dam Neck Crossing Shopping Center. Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Bikes also will be collected at Lynnhaven Mall on Dec. 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. by CNB