Bike Exchange News
Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County Bike Exchange Opens for an 11th Season
On Saturday, March 21st at 10am, the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County Bike Exchange Opens for its eighth season. The shop located in the Capital Plaza shopping center at 1500 North Olden Avenue in Ewing collects, repairs and sells bikes that have been donated from individuals across the region. Since its founding in 2009 and after 10 years in business, the Bike Exchange has sold more than 19,000 bikes and raised more than $985,000 for the Boys and Girls Club (after expenses).
The achievement of the past 10 years in business demonstrates the power of a simple idea. Recycling, refurbishing and selling used bikes can reduce the amount of waste going to landfills, help low income families and individuals purchase low-cost bikes, encourage fitness, health and green transportation options, provide young people with valuable work skills, and raise significant funds for an important cause. This compelling idea has attracted hundreds of volunteers, thousands of bike donations, and thousands of satisfied customers.
Anyone can purchase a used bike in decent condition at the Bike Exchange. The Bike Exchange always has a wide variety of bikes for sale, including basic kids bikes with training wheels, bikes for kids of all ages and bikes for adults, including road bikes, hybrid and mountain bikes.
Bikes are collected through bike drives, run by local businesses and community organizations. Anyone interested in donating a used bike can also drop them at any bike shop in Mercer County.
“The Bike Exchange is an important part of the community. The Bike Exchange provides an opportunity for local youth to learn valuable skills, provides low-cost bikes to individuals throughout the region and is an important source of financial support for the Boys & Girls Club,“ said Dave Anderson, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County.
“Our volunteers are critical to the success of the Bike Exchange. We are always welcoming new volunteers to manage the shop, help customers choose bikes, fix and repair donated bikes, organize bike drives and transport donated bikes to the shop,” said founder Russ White.
As a result of the success of the Trenton effort, Bike Exchanges have been opened in Newark, New Brunswick and Plainfield, New Jersey.
How to Help.
Donate a Bike: Individuals with a bike(s) to donate may bring the bike to the Bike Exchange or to any bike shop in Mercer County. The Bike Exchange in located in the Capitol Plaza Shopping Center at 1500 N Olden Avenue. Individuals interested in organizing bike drives should contact [email protected]. A complete list of bike drop points is on the web site www.BikeExchangeNJ.org.
Volunteer: The Bike Exchange is always welcoming new volunteers to the effort. Individuals interested in volunteering at the Bike Exchange should send an email to [email protected].
The Bike Exchange needs volunteers to manage the shop, to help customers choose bikes, to fix, clean and repair donated bikes, to organize bike drives and to transport donated bikes to the shop. Volunteers of all skill levels and all levels of bike knowledge can and do make valuable contributions to the effort. The Bike Exchange is an excellent place for individuals interested in learning and practicing bike repair while helping youth in Trenton.
For more information go to www.BikeExchangeNJ.org or send an email to [email protected]
More information on the Bike Exchange can be found at: www.facebook.com/BikeExchange