Madison, WI - On Saturday, November 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison (FB4K) will host a bike donation drive in Wauwatosa at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Milwaukee, located at 11800 W Burleigh Street, #240, Wauwatosa. The bikes collected will be refurbished and provided to Milwaukee nonprofit Sojourner.
FB4K works to meet the transportation needs of the underserved in the Madison community by collecting donated bikes, refurbishing them in the winter months, and giving them away in May—just in time for the summer biking season. FB4K gives away approximately 2,000 bikes each year to those historically excluded from the cycling industry due to cost of entry and limited access. The number of bicycles available depends on the success of the fall bike donation drives. People who plan to upgrade their bikes and kids who have outgrown their bikes make up the majority of donations. Bikes of all sizes and styles are welcome, including bikes for adults and people with disabilities.
Many FB4K bike recipients use their bicycles to get to and from school or work. Bike recipients have historically been located in Dane County, but FB4K has begun giving bikes to Racine and Milwaukee Counties through its network of distribution partners.
Since its first bike drive in 2017, FB4K has given away more than 8,275 bicycles, a value of $1,075,000. In addition to bicycles, they give a free helmet, headlights and taillights, lock, and bicycle pump—all accessories necessary for a safe and efficient bike ride. Financial donations are welcome, since the organization purchases the necessary accessories and parts to repair the bicycles—an average of $135 per recipient for each full bike package. Donations are accepted online or at Free Bikes 4 Kidz, PO Box 6594, Madison, WI 53716.
The opportunity to host a Milwaukee area bike donation drive is due to the support of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, which serves as the organization’s transportation sponsor. With locations in Madison, Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Racine, they transport the bikes pro bono to the FB4K Madison workshop for repair.
“At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, we certainly understand the importance of having wheels to take you where you need to go!” said Tim Lightner, franchisee and owner, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, and Waukesha. “We are thrilled to partner with Free Bikes For Kidz Madison and Sojourner to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work.”
About TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK lives out its mission of being the “Movers Who Care®” by creating positive move experiences that exceed customer expectations for packing, moving, junk removal, and storage—everything needed for a successful move and more. The company has been making a positive impact in the community since its inception, with many long-term nonprofit partnerships and its own nationwide philanthropy Movers For Moms®, which provides supplies for moms and kids in shelter on Mother's Day.
About Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison: FB4Kidz is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that held its first bike giveaway in Madison in Spring 2017. The organization gives bikes away through a robust network of nonprofit organizations and schools that determine the bike recipients most in need. In 2021, the organization started giving bikes to Milwaukee and Janesville residents. In 2022, they added Racine to their list of communities receiving bikes.
About Sojourner: Sojourner Family Peace Center is the largest nonprofit provider of domestic violence prevention and intervention services in Wisconsin, serving over 11,800 clients each year. Established in 1975, Sojourner provides and array of support aimed at helping families affected by domestic violence achieve safety, justice and well-being.
Media inquiries:
FB4K Madison – Executive Director Kristie Goforth, at kristie@fb4kmadison.org or 608-444-8641
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK – Heather Knight, VP, Marketing & Communications, heather.knight@twomen.com or 913.707.0758
More information can be found at: https://fb4kmadison.org
