More than 600 bikes are on their way from Seattle to Ghana, Africa after community groups, families and individuals from Seattle to the Eastside came together in Sammamish for the ARAS African Bike Drive last month.
In villages beset by poverty, transportation is limited.
People with bikes can reach distant jobs, schools or markets.
The ownership of a bicycle can transform a barely subsisting family into one of improved security, health and self-reliance.
The fourth annual ARAS drive was described as “another huge success.”
Under beautiful skies on Saturday, May 16, volunteers prepared and loaded the 613 bikes that had been collected in the weeks previous and on the day.
“The people of Sammamish really enjoy supporting this event either through their donations of used bikes and by volunteering the day of the drive,” said ARAS Community Service Director Mary Trask.
And they came out in force. Seventy volunteers helped prepare and load the bikes for shipment to Ghana.
“Many of our volunteers were entire families that wanted to spend the day together in community service,” Trask said. “Several volunteers came from Kirkland and Seattle because of their love of bicycles and wanting to share them with those living in Africa. Heidi and Doug Hodges graciously let us use their barn to store and prepare bikes that were pre-collected.
‘Two Men and a Truck: Movers Who Care’ in Redmond provided a moving truck as well as the manpower necessary to transport the pre-collected bikes to Sammamish City Hall.
The Rotary Club of Redmond and the Sammamish Kiwanis contributed, delivered and prepped bikes.
Debi Ayers of Tell Your Story Photography drove from Renton so she could photograph the event.
“I love how this event draws the attention of our surrounding communities and brings them all together in Sammamish to help uplift the lives of those struggling in Ghana,” Trask said.
“I call this our ‘feel good community service project’ because everyone who participates leaves with a smile.”
ARAS, which stands for Acceptance, Respect, Affection and Support, was founded by Sammamish resident Bob Trask in 1978, with the goal of creating programs for developing world peace by the year 2060.
For more information on ARAS, go to www.arasfoundation.org.