Newtown Rotarians Collect More Than 280 Bikes, But More Help Needed

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA ? As the cloud cover thickened overhead, the parking lot across from Olde Saint Andrews Church bustled with activity Saturday morning as cars pulled into the lot to unload their donated bikes and sewing machines.

As early morning gave way to late morning, raindrops began falling from the sky as a pile of used bikes and sewing machines grew larger and larger.

Seeing the bikes and sewing machines come in warmed the heart of Newtown Rotarian Dr. Jerry Agasar who has been organizing the drive for the past 21 years through the New Jersey-based nonprofit, Pedals for Progress.

With bicycles ready to be shipped are members of the Newtown Rotary Club, the Council Rock Interact Club and their young helpers.

Members of the Council Rock South Interact team.

?When this started in 2003 I thought we?d do it for a year or two. I cannot believe the response we have been getting year after year,? said Agasar, who estimates that over the years the club has
collected close to 3,000 bikes. ?I am so grateful to our community for its generosity.?

Agasar admitted he wasn?t quite sure what to expect this year given the weather. But his concerns soon lessened as the community again responded with bikes of all shapes and sizes and a lot of used sewing machines.

?Today couldn?t have gone any better,? said club president Mick Petrucci. ?We work hard year-round collecting bikes. It?s not just today. But what?s really exciting about today are the young Interact students from Council Rock North and from Council Rock South who are here today helping.?

About a dozen students from the Rotary-sponsored high school service club gave up their Saturday to assist the Rotarians in preparing the bikes for shipment.

?They are giving up their Saturday to help those in need around the world. That?s exciting to me and a true testament to service above self,? said Petrucci.

While the used bikes don?t have value in the states because they are so cheap, Pedals for Progress executive director Alan Schultz said they are priceless in other parts of the world where they can power local economies.

?It just changes people?s lives,? said Schultz. ?It?s not a handout. It?s a leg up,? he says. ?It gives them the ability to go out and work and provide for their families so no one goes hungry.

?You have to go to school. You have to go shopping. You have to go to work. And you need a way to do that,? said Schultz.

Rotarian Rick Rogers works on one of the bikes.

Dr. Jerry Agasar with members of the Council Rock North Interact Club.

Thanks to the generosity of the community, the Newtown Rotarians, and Pedals For Progress, this year 287 bikes and 27 sewing machines are on their way to the people of Albania and Belize.

Agasar has one final ask of the community. He?s looking for financial donations to help defray the cost of shipping the bikes overseas.

While individuals donating bikes and sewing machines are asked to give $20 to defray shipping, the club also receives a lot of bikes from local police departments and from two bike stores - Bike King in Levittown and Bike Works in Newtown - that don?t come with the accompanying donation.

?We are asking the public to help us defray the rising cost of shipping,? said Agasar. ?Ever since the pandemic, shipping costs have gone through the roof. If you don?t have a bike to donate, if you feel it in your heart to donate toward the shipping of the bikes, Pedals for Progress would really appreciate it,? said Agasar.

Donations may be made to the Newtown Rotary Club, P.O. Box 123, Penns Park, PA 18943. Checks should be made payable to Pedals for Progress.

If you couldn?t make it to Saturday?s collection drive, contact drjerry@agasarfamilywellcare.com or call 215-605-3268 to make collection arrangements for next year.

Newtown Rotarians received a helping hand with their bike collection from students and leaders of the Council Rock High School North and South Interact clubs.