WAXHAW, N.C. — A local group in Waxhaw is working to add more of the holiday spirit to families in need.
F3 in Union County are collecting fixable bicycles, repairing them, and planning to donate them around the holiday season.
The group has collected close to 100 bikes and is doing everything from inflating tires to fixing the gears and realigning the handlebars.
Child and adult bikes are included as the group aims to make a difference for families this year.
Paul Wuerslin with F3 Waxhaw recognizes the impact a bicycle can make.
“There's always a need for bikes,” Wuerslin said.
The group started collecting bikes around the summer. Each bike collected will be fixed and donated to those in need. Members of the group started fixing the bikes and over time the community caught wind and started to pitch in.
“Once word has gotten out to neighborhood Facebook groups and next door, some of the donations from a Millbridge Walnut Creek, Lawson, Briar crest have just been over really kind of. It's an abundance of bikes that we've gotten,” Wuerslin added.
With more and more of the community’s involvement, Jeff Hamula is seeing the impact his group is making and the effects of people helping people.
“We are enabling them to give even though they may not feel comfortable giving because it's old or something's wrong with it, and they don't want to give it away," Hamula said. "And they don't have a mechanism. So we're just enabling that to happen.”
Wuerslin looks forward to continuing the efforts beyond the holiday season.
“We're hoping to keep it going. And it's not just a Christmas thing, but it's an ongoing. We know what to do with the bikes. And now we got to figure out you know where the needs are to move them,” Wuerslin said.
The group will donate several of the bikes next Saturday in east charlotte during a private giveaway. However, families can collect the donated bikes on Thursdays and Saturdays at Christ’s Closet.