The volunteer mechanics dedicate their time without compensation, driven by the memory of their own first bikes and the freedom they represented.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — At Ted’s Bicycles, the spirit of Christmas starts in the summertime. The generational gem, open since 1971, has made it their mission to ensure local children experience the joy of receiving their first bicycle.
"We’re here for the Bob Telmosse Christmas giveaway. That’s an event that goes on every year a week or two before Christmas," said Tony Hoewisch, the shop’s owner. "What we do is we give away bicycles."
The initiative relies heavily on community support, with hundreds of used bikes donated annually. These donations are carefully restored and refurbished by a dedicated team of volunteer mechanics who work alongside the shop’s staff.
"The community is great. Year after year we get hundreds of bikes donated," said Hoewisch, whom colleagues playfully describe as "having the little bike shop with a big heart."
It’s crucial that the team of volunteers begin their work months before the holiday season.
"There’s been years where we’ve given over 1,000 bikes away. And the last few years, it’s been around the 700-800 range, hence the need to start early in the year to either get them fixed, assembled or whatever," Hoewisch explained.The volunteer mechanics dedicate their time without compensation, driven by the memory of their own first bikes and the freedom they represented."Yeah, you’re free, you’re just out there," Bob reflects, now in his second year of volunteering.This year, the team exceeded their […]
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