Getting ready for the Holidays (presents)

[KnottedYet]

My family does donations and themes for some presents.

Like, donating $$ to the food bank, and then giving each member of the family a kitchen utensil with a card about the donation.

Or donating to the local search and rescue, and each person gets a first aid kit for Christmas with a card about the donation.

I just found Worldbike, like 20 minutes ago. How did I not know about this?!?! It's like Heifer International, but with bikes!

http://worldbike.org/store-one

And one thing I *really* like is that they have training programs to teach women to do bike maintainance and repairs and start their own businesses!

[KnottedYet]

Here's the bike-based business I'd like to work on: http://www.metrofiets.com/profiles/hopworks/#photo4088171961 ;)

[TrekTheKaty]

Thanks, KnottedYet.

I saw a group of hand cyclists at our local trail the other day. I didn't get to the opportunity to ask what group they were with, but I suspect it was some of our returning veterans.

I'm looking for a charity that donates hand cycles to US veterans. I've priced trikes and they can't be cheap.

[KnottedYet]

Get a hold of Mike. http://www.oneoffhandcycle.com/ He may know. He builds amazing ti handcycles, and does ti wedding rings on the side to help subsidize ti handcycles for folks who can't afford them.

My cousin is an avid handcyclist. He rides 50+ miles at the drop of a hat. He wears out wheelchairs at an alarming rate, but the handcycles are tough. Having a handcycle really changed his life.

ETA: Here's Mike's wedding ring page. There doesn't seem to be a link from his new handcycle page: http://www.titaniumarts.com/pages/rings/rings.html?content=1

You can also contact Adaptive Adventures. They are not specifically directed toward veterans, but they are big on handcycles and have programs directed toward veterans as well. http://adaptiveadventures.org/event/2010/veterans-adaptive-activities-day-2010 They have funding from a major manufacturer (Invacare), so might not need donations as much as some of the smaller handcycling groups. They may know of some programs for handcycle donations to veterans, though.

[TrekTheKaty]

Thank you!

[Crankin]

TrektheKaty, you might want to contact the Wounded Warrior Project. They specifically do rides with vets who need adapted bikes and they also do rides as fundraisers.

[marni]

Thanks, KnottedYet.

I saw a group of hand cyclists at our local trail the other day. I didn't get to the opportunity to ask what group they were with, but I suspect it was some of our returning veterans.

I'm looking for a charity that donates hand cycles to US veterans. I've priced trikes and they can't be cheap.

we do a ride every fall called the independence ride, which is specifically to raise money for bikes for returning disabled veterans. Each year we have a number of them join us on the ride and we manage to raise enough money to buy at least one specially adapted bike pluse sponser a couple of non local veterans into the area for the ride. We have had double amputees as well as blind and single amputees ride with us. I think they are part of the national group - try looking under independenc rides, riders, disable veterans/bike rides. You're bound to find something local.

marni