BikeSwapset for Saturday atExhibition

An opportunity for spring cleaning and to give back to the community at the same is happening in Lethbridge on Saturday.

The non-profit organization Alberta Bike Swap is encouraging people in Lethbridge to bring their nolonger-needed, goodconditioned bikes to the Exhibition Park North Pavilion for them to be resold and given a new home.

Half of the funds from the event will be returned to the community to fund safe cycling programs and to make informative tech-checks on the bikes. The other half is kept in the bank for other community events put on by the organization.

Hannah Lee, volunteer for the Alberta Bike Swap, says the fundraiser is a convenient way for people to give back to the community, donate to a good cause and to keep usable items out of the landfill.

“The environmental aspect of reusing good quality bikes, encouraging more people to use bikes in the city and to prevent more items ending up in the landfill that cannot decompose is a large factor of the fundraiser,” she said.

The remaining bikes from the fundraiser will be donated to the Lethbridge Food Bank to help their clients with their transportation insecurities.

“We look for organizations to give the bikes to and this year the Lethbridge Food Bank reached out to us for their clients who could really benefit from good quality transportation,” said Lee.

The entrance fee of $2 to the event will be going toward the purchase of parts to repair bikes for immediate use. Bike parts are also being accepted as a donation to make the rebuilding an easier process.

From 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, community members can drop off all size and types of bikes to get them inspected for quality and to make sure they aren’t stolen property. The second half of the day is an open market for people to purchase the bikes from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.

The Alberta Bike Swap organization and the Lethbridge Food Bank are encouraging the community to participate through either donating or with volunteering at the event. Cash donations are being accepted all day as well to help further fund many different bike programs within the city.