Fourth- and seventh-grade students at Los Gatos' donated more than 100 bicycles and helmets to Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County in San Jose Wednesday afternoon.
The students cleaned and prepped the equipment at the school with the help of employees and mechanics from in downtown Los Gatos. Then they distributed them to the nonprofit's donation station at 2625 Zanker Rd. in San Jose.
According to Robin Reynolds of Catholic Charities, a donated bicycle can make the difference for a client to keep a job—and has.
St. Mary's School fourth-grade outreach coordinator parent Kelle Remmel said organizers wanted the children to realize that bicycles are used by the less fortunate for transportation, rather than enjoyment.
"They learned that the bikes aren't just about having fun, but people actually use them to provide for their livelihoods and be self-sufficient," she said.
The students have collected bicycles and helmets for months.
The effort also involved parishioners at in Los Gatos. The 70 students who participated in the drive did outreach to parishioners and went to Mass to promote the bike drive.
U-Haul in Campbell also donated a truck used to transport the bikes to Catholic Charities.
