Atlanta nonprofit repairs donated bikes to give children a safe ride

An Atlanta nonprofit collects used bicycles and repairs them to give them to children. 

Free Bikes 4 Kidz Atlanta is preparing for an upcoming bike rodeo at Glanton Elementary School in Grantville on Sept. 2.

Junior DeBarros is the vice chair of the board for the nonprofit. He told CBS News Atlanta that safety is their priority while they salvage as many parts as they can to repair bikes for kids.

“Safety is paramount for us,” DeBarros said. “Every bike goes out with a helmet.”

DeBarros said every bike the organization gives away is accompanied by a helmet. 

The organization is working on 25 bicycles for the upcoming giveaway. Volunteers help clean, prep, repair and inspect the bikes before they are paired with a child.

The giveaway includes teaching kids about bike-safety skills, including how to properly wear a helmet, use hand signals and safely navigate roads.

Eufemia Cabrera-D’Amour, vice president of the Metro Atlanta Cycling Club, said she has watched kids pass on their used bikes after receiving one from the nonprofit.

“If I’m getting this one, now you take this one and you give it to somebody else,” she said. “It’s an amazing thing to watch that happen.”

The nonprofit distributes between 1,000 to 1,200 bicycles each year and operates largely through donations.