EVERETT — Mathew Tetreault, 13, had been looking for a new bicycle for about a year. Mathew, of Everett, grew out of a blue mountain bike that he got from his older brother.
Mathew and his father, Louis Tetreault, went to several garage sales looking for a bigger bike without luck.
The boy got lucky on Sunday when he visited Sharing Wheels in Everett, a nonprofit group that fixes and donates used bicycles. The organization held its annual bike swap event for children on Sunday.
Mathew traded his old bike for a green mountain bike for $35.
“It’s bigger; it’s nice,” Mathew said.
The good deal helped his parents as well. Louis Tetreault said that with the economy slowing down, he finds it difficult to buy a brand new bike for his son. Plus, his son learned the importance of recycling.
“Kids grow out of (bikes) so fast,” Tetreault said. “I’m glad this bike will be used by someone else.”
Sharing Wheels has held the event since 2003, said Ron Toppi, founder of the organization. Each year, about 30 children swap their bikes and get free helmets. In addition, the organization donates bicycles to other nonprofit groups. Some bikes are sent to Ghana in Africa.
“With high gas prices, people are trying different kinds of transportation methods,” Toppi said. “I hope our co-op can grow.”
In the chilly morning on Sunday, volunteers kept busy fixing and tuning up bicycles in a parking lot at Sharing Wheels.
Genevieve Martinez, 10, of Edmonds found a mountain bike at Sharing Wheels last year. This year, she came back to donate the bike that got too small for her.
Genevieve said she already got a new bike on Christmas. She will miss her old bike.
“It worked well, It was easy to go uphills,” she said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
