City of Charlotte Fleet Management and Right Moves for Youth built 50 bikes to distribute to kids in the community.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The City of Charlotte is spreading holiday cheer through its annual Bike Build event, assembling 50 bicycles for students in economically challenged neighborhoods of Mecklenburg County.
The initiative, a partnership between the City of Charlotte, Right Moves for Youth, and The Spokes Group, has been ongoing since 2008. To date, the program has donated more than 1,000 bicycles to middle and high school students.
Ryan Grammatico, executive director of Right Moves for Youth, emphasized the deeper significance of the bike donation.
"Having the adult care model really changes the trajectory of a young person," Grammatico said. "Even though it’s just a bike, it’s a connecting piece that says, ‘I’m valued by someone else.’"
City employees and their families spent the morning carefully assembling the bicycles, turning the event into a community-wide effort.
Chris Trull, Division Manager of City of Charlotte Fleet Management, brought his nieces and nephews to participate."I just enjoy helping the community and putting a smile on some kids’ faces," Trull said. "It’s about giving kids a sense of freedom and seeing them enjoy the activity."Grammatico noted that the bikes serve as more than just transportation. "It’s an incentive piece that allows a young person to say, ‘I earned this, and this is a part of me now,’" he explained.The Bike Build initiative continues to be a powerful example of community collaboration, providing not just bicycles, but hope and encouragement […]
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