For many children, a bicycle is much more than just a mode of transportation. Bicycles foster feelings of independence and responsibility, and offer the promise of outdoor exercise and fun. But for young people who come from families with limited resources, the notion of bicycle ownership can be a fleeting dream. Wheels for Winners, a Madison-based nonprofit organization, offers the children of Dane County a chance at that dream. However, instead of simply giving away bicycles to students in need, Wheels for Winners offers them the opportunity to earn a free bicycle, helmet, lock, and license registration by completing fifteen hours of community service or independent book reports.
Wheels for Winners was founded to help children and their families address the economic hurdles to bicycle ownership while at the same time fostering civic engagement and social responsibility. Ruth Ann Schoer founded the organization in 1992 after working as a social worker in a low-income neighborhood. She noticed that children would often steal bicycles from higher-income neighborhoods because they simply could not afford their own. Instead of focusing on punitive measures, however, she struck upon a different way to curb this behavior after noticing the scores of bicycles that were simply abandoned around the city. Schoer envisioned a community service program that would put these neglected bikes to good use, and Wheels for Winners was born. The program encourages "children, many in traditionally poor, disenfranchised, and racial minority segments of Madison, to become interactive members of the community through volunteer service projects," says Wheels for Winners board treasurer, Dar Ward. "At the same time," Ward notes, "we provide environmentally friendly, economically sustainable, and active transportation options while removing bicycles from the waste stream."
Wheels for Winners volunteers pass on these important lessons about the communal, environmental, and health benefits of bike riding to the kids in the program, making the program that much more vital for a population that often lacks traditional community resources and support. Students can earn their bicycle by stocking food pantries, serving as crossing guards, or cleaning up their neighborhoods. Past beneficiaries of the program were youth leaders in drug-free and fight-free programs, and some have even produced promotional videos for their neighborhood centers.
But many students who participate in the program earn their bicycle through reading books and writing book reports. An adult supervises all preapproved projects and vouches for each student's participation. The program relies on volunteers not only to educate youth on the benefits of bicycle ownership, but also to recondition donated bicycles, give bicycle safety workshops, and help participants to earn and select their first bicycle. In addition to drawing support from volunteers, Wheels for Winners partners individual sponsors and community organizations like the Packer Community Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. To donate a used bicycle, sponsor a student project, or volunteer your time in the Wheels for Winners bike shop, visit wheelsforwinners.org or call 608-249-2418.
