Seeking Bikes for Homeless Vets

TUCKAHOE – Ocean City-Upper Township Rotary has joined forces with the Aaron Wittkamp Colwell American Legion Post 239 of Tuckahoe with Operation Used Bicycles.
The goal is to collect 80 working bicycles which will be donated to help homeless veterans get back on their feet.  
Veteran’s Haven in Winslow, Atlantic County, is a state-operated residential treatment and transitional housing facility for homeless veterans. 
Approximately 80 veterans are housed there which is the final destination for the bicycles. 
The objective of the facility is to help veterans get a permanent source of income and housing as well as to be self-sufficient.
Bikes provided from Operation Used Bicycles, allow those veterans an opportunity to gain employment within the local community and to become independent. 
Operation Used Bicycles will allow each veteran to receive a working bicycle but also a lock, helmet, safety vest, and reflectors.
This project funded by Ocean City-Upper Township Rotary and American Legion Post 239 of Tuckahoe is seeking working bicycles. “We love to have the community involved and spread awareness,” says Randi Sheck of the Upper Township/Ocean City Rotary. 
Sheck explained that they could perform minor bicycle repairs such as tires, brakes, and chains and all bicycles are repaired before being delivered to the veterans. 
The Rotary and American Legion are hoping to provide all of the residents with a bicycle and make this an annual project, so all veterans entering the facility will receive a bicycle. 
Anyone wanting to donate a bicycle for Operation Used Bicycles can drop it off at Village Barber Shop in Wayside Village, 36 Tuckahoe Road, Marmora.  
To make a monetary donation or for information on how to join either the American Legion or Rotary contact Randi Sheck of Ocean City-Upper Township Rotary at 609-412-3459 or Dennis DeSalvo of the American Legion at 609-390-9203.
To contact Johanna Hovik, email jhovik@cmcherald.com.