December 13, 2008
San Francisco, CA ? On Saturday, December 13, Turning Wheels for Kids, a program of the Valley Medical Center Foundation, offered Bike Build 2008 to more than 600 volunteers to build thousands of bikes for charities to distribute to low-income children, Hundreds of volunteers gathered in San Jose as part of an annual effort to assemble thousands of bicycles for low-income children who have a high risk of obesity.
"One group of about 30 children were invited to handpick bicycles from the group of assembled bikes, thanks to Variety Children's Charity of Northern California and the County of Santa Clara", Variety's executive director Ellen Goodman said.
Goodman said the children are clients of the county's Department of Child Support Services.
"They are our first choice when we look for kids who are recipients," she said. "It's really the special event that brings excitement for the holidays."
The children, their siblings and families attended helmet fitting and safety education before being fitted for their bikes. She said the bicycles are a wonderful way to provide exercise and help disadvantaged children develop healthy habits.
"There are so many families that are suffering in this economy, the timing of this particular event couldn't be better," Goodman said.