Bikes for Kids Ministry reaches out to the Valley

It’s Saturday morning at the Agape House on the corner of 1st and Main in Saratoga. Bicycles line the sidewalk and spill onto the lawn.

Bikes for Kids Ministry is managed by Ralph Hicks and Mike Day. They have been accpeting donated bicycles in for the past 7 years. They tune them up, make repairs when needed and give them away.

According to Hicks, the program started when he picked up a couple bikes at the landfill one day, brought them home and cleaned them up. He spoke with Sarah Lincoln at the Boys and Girls Club about giving them to a couple kids that might need them.

She took the bikes and called Hicks a week later to let him know she had more bikes donated for him to repair.

Hicks found most of the items he needed to put a shop together at the landfill. He said, he feels like this was a sign from God. Everything he needed somehow found its way into his hands.

Hicks only charges for adult bicycles, kids bicycles are free. However, if an adult comes to Hicks without the funds to purchase a bicycle, he won’t turn you away.

Hicks said that the diocese also provided a grant for $5,000 to help get the garage transformed into a bike shop.

For awhile Hicks had adult bikes sitting in storage that he just couldn’t get to and was thrilled when Mike Day came along and offered to help.

Approximately 60-70 kids bikes and about the same number of adult bikes are given away annually.

Bikes are also taken to the Comea Shelter in Cheyenne, Wyoming and some are sent up to reservation in South Dakota.

Hicks and Day caught up with the guys working at the mill that were walking all the way to Medicine Water and gave them bicycles.

Hicks has also participated in bike rodeos. He ended up repairing brakes on the majority of the bikes. Hicks worries about the kids in town that don’t have decent brakes.

Five years ago, the congregation of St. Barnabas’ Episcopal Church, decided to share the Agape House with folks who arrive in town on bicycles and need a warm shower, a place to cook a hot meal and a safe place to roll out a bedroll for a good night’s sleep.

The bicycle shop has also served these travelers as well.

On the east side of the house is an artificial Christmas tree full of plastic bags tied on to the tree. In these little parcels are things that people need but can’t always afford to buy. Some contain a toothbrush, toothpaste and soap, others have snacks and wet wipes.

It is a Giving Tree, available 24 hours a day to servethose in need. Whether a weary traveler or a resident having a hard time, all are welcome.