By Reporter Staff

Over the last 11 years, the ARAS Foundation has sent more than 7,000 bikes plus thousands of bike parts to Africa, according to Mary Trask, ARAS community service director. Most of these were gathered at the annual African Bike Drive on the Sammamish plateau.

Trask is hoping the community will come out once again for the 12th annual drive on May 20. The foundation will host the drive at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Bikes and bike parts are wanted and will be shipped to Ghana and Sierra Leone, Africa,” Trask wrote in an email.

The foundation is also seeking volunteers to help prepare the bikes for shipment. Volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those interested in volunteering can sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040a49a4a87-20173.

No bike experience is needed to volunteer.

“We welcome clubs, families and scout troops to assist by seeking bike donations in their neighborhoods, schools, places of worship and work,” Trask said.

All donations are tax deductible. Contact Tim Myers at bikes@rightfield.com with donation questions.

Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church is located at 22818 S.E. Eighth St. in Sammamish.