Sean Dolan of Havertown, production manager for Pine Street Carpenters, and his daughter Tess work on a bike at the remodeling firm’s bike-build.
The sounds of holiday cheer and good will toward men rang through the West Chester workshop of remodeling firm Pine Street Carpenters on Sunday, as over 100 elves gathered for Pine Street’s 15th Annual 100 Wheels Project bike-build.
Each year Pine Street holds its 100 Wheels Project, partnering with the community to provide over 100 bikes to children throughout the region. On Saturday alone, the Pine Street elves assembled 106 bicycles. Over the 15-year history of the project, the group has provided over 1400 bicycles to those in need – just in time for the holidays.
In what has grown to become a true community event, Pine Street partners with organizations and individuals throughout the region to make the initiative a success.
“Non-profit agencies help us get these bicycles into the hands of families most in need,” said Mike Dolan, marketing manager for Pine Street Carpenters. “Clients and local businesses support the event through donations. Friends, family members and countless others volunteer as our bike-building elves. It truly is a community-powered project.”
Local businesses supporting this year’s project include: Brothers Pizza, O’Rourke & Sons, IT Edge, United Tire, Sage and Sons, Windle’s Water Works, and Unruh, Turner, Burke and Frees, all of West Chester; Harmony Heating of Kennett Square; Marvel Masonry of West Grove; and Shady Grove Painting of Oxford.
By early afternoon on Saturday, all 100 bicycles were assembled and decorated with a scarf and winter gloves. Helmets, donated from the community and Nemours Children’s Hospital, were wrapped, along with bike locks, to accompany each bike. Pine Street will spend the next week delivering the bikes to its non-profit partners, who in turn will get them into the hands of smiling children just in time for the holidays.
This year, Pine Street’s non-profit partners include: Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children, Family Service of Chester County, The Care Center, and Saint Agnes Day Room, all of West Chester; Home of the Sparrow (Exton); People’s Pantry at Church Road (Malvern); Kate’s Casa (Phoenixville); and Norristown Area High School.
To learn more about Pine Street’s “100 Wheels Project,” visit www.bikebuild.org.
