Free Bikes 4 Kidz Kicking Off 9th Season
Organization has given over 17,400 bikes to kids in the last eight years
Free Bikes 4 Kidz (FB4K) Detroit, is once again calling on the public to donate used
bicycles on Saturday, September 26 from 9am to 2pm at locations throughout Southeast
Michigan. Since 2018, FB4K Detroit has given away 17,425 bikes to local kids in need. Each
bike includes a free, properly sized helmet.
“Bike collection day inspires our entire FB4K family every year,” said Bob Barnes, FB4K Detroit,
Executive Director. “People in our community really show their true colors when they donate
their time and their kid’s beloved but outgrown wheels. Last year we collected almost 3,300
bikes and we’re confident we can beat that this year with the incredible support of the public, our
team and our volunteers. It’s literally a win-win-win as we help donors clear out their garage,
keep the bikes out of the waste stream and get an under resourced child a new set of shiny
wheels before the holidays. And everyone has fun on collection day – the bike donors, the
volunteers at all the donation locations and the team at our warehouse unloading thousands of
bikes. We all understand the effect a bike has on a child’s physical and emotional health and
there is a celebratory atmosphere all day long.”
On September 26, from 9 am to 2 pm, the community can donate used bikes at 11 locations
across metro Detroit. Specific drop off locations, including addresses, can be found at
http://www.fb4kdetroit.org/locations. As in 2025, the flagship donation site will be at Woodward
Corners again this year – the Corewell Health shopping center at the southwest corner of 13
Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. Volunteers will be available at each site to help
donors unload bikes and donation receipts will be available upon request.
Donated bikes will be delivered to a warehouse provided by the Piston Group at 4015 Michigan
Avenue in Detroit, where they will be stored, cleaned and refurbished. Volunteers of all skill
levels are needed between September 28 and December 5 for cleaning and repair. Just before
the Christmas holiday, the bikes will be given to under-resourced kids through pre-registered
faith-based and community organizations, and schools,
“Our collaboration with FB4K Detroit is meaningful to our company and our community,” said
Piston Group Founder and Chairman Vinnie Johnson. “After all the bikes are donated, we need
hundreds of volunteers over the next three months, to help get them ready. It’s a perfect
opportunity for organizations or companies looking for a positive, charitable, team-building
activity,” said Johnson.
Interested volunteers can go to fb4kdetroit.org to sign up for a three-hour volunteer shift. Groups
can schedule a shift by emailing volunteer@fb4kdetroit.org. Volunteers will be matched to their
skill levels.
“Piston Group is honored to be able to donate 30,000 square feet of space in our Michigan
Avenue facility, in the heart of Corktown, to house this worthwhile effort. We hope companies
from across the area will send volunteer teams to get these bikes ready for the December
giveaway,” Johnson says.
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About Piston Group
Piston Group, comprising of Piston Automotive, Piston Interiors, Detroit Thermal Systems, and
A. Lava, is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. It designs, engineers, assembles and
manufactures a wide variety of automotive parts and systems. Piston Group was founded in
1995 by industry magnate and former NBA champion Vinnie Johnson, and is one of the largest
private, minority-owned automotive suppliers in North America.
Today, Piston Group employs over 10,000 people at more than 20 locations across North
America. Visit www.pistongroup.com for more information.
About Free Bikes 4 Kids, Detroit
Free Bikes 4 Kidz Detroit is the eighth of 20 FB4K affiliates across the U.S. Since we began our
mission here in Detroit in 2018, FB4K Detroit has given away 17,425 bikes to kids in need in our
community. Visit FB4KDetroit.org for more information.