Donate your gently used bikes on October 7 at South Metro locations
SHAKOPEE, Minn. (Sept. 25, 2017) — Allina Health is teaming up Free Bikes 4 Kidz for the seventh year in a row to collect donated bicycles for kids in need throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Last year more than 5,000 bikes were collected, and we'd like to do it again this year.
"We want to help make it possible for every child to have a bike and participate in a healthy, fun and environmentally friendly activity," says Penny Wheeler, MD, Allina Health president and CEO. "As a health care organization, we recognize good health habits start early, which is why we partner with FB4K, an organization geared toward helping all kids ride into a healthier, happier childhood by providing bikes to those most in need."
In the South Metro area, volunteers—accepting donations of gently used or new bikes—will be at many Allina Health locations on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. including:
- Allina Health Burnsville Clinic, 14000 Nicollet Ave. S., Suite 100 in Burnsville
- Allina Health Chanhassen Clinic, 7770 Dell Road, Suite 110 in Chanhassen
- Allina Health Chaska Clinic, 111 Hundertmark Road, Suite 220 in Chaska
- St. Francis Health Services in Jordan, 265 Creek Lane S. in Jordan
- Allina Health Lakeville Clinic, 20795 Keokuk Ave. in Lakeville
- Allina Heath Savage Clinic, 6350 143rd St., Suite 102 in Savage
- St. Francis Regional Medical Center, 1455 St. Francis Ave. in Shakopee
The first 50 donors at each site will receive free a FB4K shirt. Donated bikes will also be accepted at more than 40 other Allina Health locations on the 7th.
"We are so humbled by the generosity of people in the South Metro; we consistently receive a very large number of bikes from families in our region," says Tamara Severtson, manager, Community Benefit and Engagement at St. Francis Regional Medical Center. "I'm especially moved, when kids who've outgrown their bikes, come to the donation site and know they are doing something good for someone else."
Free Bikes 4 Kidz is also seeking volunteers to help clean and prepare the donated bikes for distribution. For more information and to volunteer visit FB4K.org.
Free Bikes 4 Kidz, in partnership with Allina Health, will distribute the donated bikes to kids in need in early December and in the spring. Kids will also receive free bicycle helmets and concussion prevention information from Allina Health at the bike distribution events.
About Allina Health
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 13 hospitals, 15 retail pharmacies, specialty care centers and specialty medical services that provide home care, senior transitions, hospice care, home oxygen and medical equipment, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook and Twitter.