Volunteers build 335 bikes for kids in need

Edgewood Park — A large group of volunteers spent a mere three hours to build 335 kids bicycles during Waste Connections’ annual build-a-bike event. About 200 people participated Dec. 6 at Columbia Machine’s 70,000-square-foot warehouse. “We had 45 workstations, and that wasn’t enough,” said Scott Campbell, district manager for Waste Connections of Washington-Clark County, which hosts the annual build-a-bike program. “With such a great turnout, we actually had people building bikes on the floor. It was quite remarkable.” The bicycles, made from kits, will be distributed to Clark County Sheriff’s Office Santa’s Posse program, the state Division of Children and Family Services and other regional charitable organizations. The build-a-bike program is part of the Waste Connections’ national Christmas Promise, implemented locally by a number of community partners. “A lot of these bikes are going to go to foster children who very well might not have ridden a bike, let alone owned one,” Campbell said.