A Mission that Keeps on Rolling: Local Bikes Bring Joy to Those in Need

By Adam Chalifoux

MOORHEAD, Minn. – For a child, a bicycle can mean freedom — a chance to ride with friends, explore the neighborhood, or simply get where they need to go. For Marvin and his friends from Dilworth Lutheran, it’s also an opportunity to give back.

This past week, a dozen refurbished children’s bicycles found new homes with residents at Bright Sky Apartments, thanks to Marvin and his friends, who have spent years repairing bikes and donating them to people in need.

For the past three years, Marvin has donated refurbished children’s bikes to residents at Bright Sky Apartments. He also donated an adult bike to a guest at Micah’s Mission to help him travel to and from work.

The project started when Marvin and his family began spending winters in Texas a little more than 10 years ago. There, Marvin got involved with a charity that helped repair bicycles and donate them to low-income students at a school near the Mexican border.

“All together, we’ve probably fixed right in the neighborhood of 1,000 bicycles down there,” Marvin recalls.

The bikes were used as incentives to motivate students to earn good grades and maintain good attendance at school.

Marvin brought the idea back to Minnesota and began collecting used bikes during spring cleaning season, finding them new homes with people in need. Marvin and his friends have kept their eyes open for years as their mission to provide a smooth ride rolls on. He and his friends recently donated bikes to the New Life Center in Fargo as well.

For the kids at Bright Sky and the guests at Micah’s Mission, the gift of a bicycle is nothing short of life-changing. Whether it’s a ride with friends or a more efficient way to commute to work, a bike is a gift that keeps on giving.

“It’s very rewarding,” Marvin says. “It’s not for me. It’s for the kids. The side benefit is the good feeling of doing things.”