A collection is a great way to engage your school, group or community in a service project that focuses on the value of recycling while repurposing a valuable tool that will transform lives around the world. We help you extend a hand to help others in Africa, Central America, and the Philippines.

A bike collection is just that, a drive to collect used bikes. A collection can be planned a few months in advance with focus on advertising the event through email lists, posted flyers, or a mention in a local paper. The collection manager will work with a BfW representative during this outreach process.

Bikes for the World offers a Collection Guide, that can be viewed online, that walks you through the collection process. The first step is securing a date for the event with a Bikes for the World representative. This is to ensure you have the tools, support, and most importantly a truck and driver to transport the bikes to our warehouse at the end of the collection. If you are ready to schedule an event please contact us. Keep reading for more information.

Hampton Elementary

A hands-on activity:

A big part of what we do is to provide rewarding community service projects here at home. Prepping the bikes for shipping affords us space to increase the number of bikes we can ship to a partner each time we donate a container. This process also helps protect the bikes in transport so that mechanics on the other end have less to do to get that bike up and running again for its new owner. All bikes are shipped ‘as is’ as far as maintenance is concerned. This creates jobs for mechanics within the rural communities where your old bikes find new homes.

Bikes for the World accepts any style bike and any size. We do not accept children’s tricycles or any bike that has a considerable amount of rust. Bikes that are broken or missing parts are accepted. We also accept used parts, bike accessories, and cycling clothing. Most donations will be donated to one of a dozen projects we support overseas. Some bikes will be donated to local groups. All bikes will make a difference.

Collection banner 1

What Bikes for the World provides:

Bikes for the World supplies collection tools and supplies, a large outside banner to help advertise, and a detailed guide on how to host a successful collection. We also issue receipts to all donors; blank receipts will be mailed to you before the collection.

Bikes for the World can send a representative to your school or group before the event to introduce the program. This presentation usually takes about 45 minutes. We would show a video about our program, talk a little about what we do and who we help, as well as answer any questions about our program or the upcoming collection. We could also bring a bike and tools to show your volunteers how we ‘prep’ a bike for shipping.

Bikes for the World provides video instruction to your volunteers that details their responsibility during the collection. You can find this video at the bottom of the page. We will also provide hands on training before and during the collection event. Tools and supplies will be provided.

Bike prepped

During the collection event Bikes for the World will provide tools and training to your volunteers. We will have a mentor and/or driver on site for the duration of the event. You should provide the location, the volunteers, and a plan for inclement weather (we collect rain or shine).

Donations are tax deductible and we will provide receipts for all donations. We also suggest a $10 donation per bike (although this is not a requirement). This helps cover our support of your collection, including the truck rental and gas to remove bikes. There is no direct cost to you for any part of this process, we only expect someone at your collection to make that suggested donation ask to every donor.

collection banner 2

How many bikes do we need to collect?

Your goal should be 50-100 bikes but some schools collect even more. Each bike represents four lives changed overseas. Our donated bikes are creating jobs, increasing wages, and keeping kids in school.

What if we collect less?

That’s okay, but the more bikes we collect, the more lives we can affect. And if we can keep those bikes in use and out of our landfills it's a win-win. Each shipment we send overseas holds more than 400 bikes. When we can, we will let you know where your bikes are heading and how they will be affecting lives once they arrive.

VIDEO
How to process a bike: