Bike giveaway needs help
FAYETTEVILLE (WTVD) -- Ann Mathis has one Christmas wish -- to give away as many or more bikes than last year.
"Right now, we have about 600-700 bikes," said Ann Mathis, with the Bicycle Man Project.
Last Christmas, the Bicycle Man bike give-a-way brought smiles to more than 1,000 needy children. Ann Mathis is making good on a promise to her dying husband, that she would keep his dream alive.
"I did not know how much work it is, but thank God I have some people working with me that are faithful and really working," Mathis said.
Her husband Moses Mathis started the charity two decades ago. He died in July 2013.
Keith Melvin has worked part-time with Mathis for the past four years. He says you've got to know what you are doing.
"I probably get out 15-20 bikes a day," said Melvin. "Sometimes on a good day, I can get maybe 20-25 bikes out."
However, it's more work than one person can handle. With hundreds of bikes still needing repair, Mathis is asking for an army of volunteers to help get the bikes ready for Christmas smiles.
"Serious volunteers that will come in and help us repair bikes," she said. "Serious volunteers that know how to repair bikes."
Mathis says she also needs donations to help keep the charity going, and put smiles on the faces of needy children when they get a shiny new bike for Christmas. She now knows why her husband loved doing it.
"Giving out the bikes, and seeing the smiles on all those kid's faces," Mathis said. "It makes it worthwhile."
Mathis has planned a bike rodeo and fundraiser at Methodist University on Sept. 13, and she will be collecting bicycles in Wake County in October.
More Information
https://www.facebook.com/TheBicycleManCommunityOutreachProject
