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Arifullah with his 'new' bike Photo provided
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For the 17th year, November is bike-collection month for Bobbie and Tom Preston. The Moraga couple is once again holding the Cycle Recycle, collecting repairable bikes to be refurbished and given to charitable groups to distribute at Christmas. This year some of the bicycles will be given to Iraqi and Afghani refugees who have resettled in Contra Costa County.
"We will be distributing some of the bikes from this year's Cycle Recycle to recent Iraqi and Afghani immigrants who have been resettled in the area by Jewish Family and Children's Services in Walnut Creek," said Bobbie Preston, who has been collecting and delivering furniture to these families who worked with our troops in Afghanistan and needed to leave their country. Arifullah, age 15, was the first to receive a bike; he is the son of Sharifullah, a recent immigrant from Afghanistan who served as a translator for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan for 10 years. Arifullah attends Oakland International High School.
"To date over 2,500 bikes have been collected for repair by the inmates at the Marsh Creek Detention Center, which provides bikes to Cambridge Community Center in Concord and other Contra Costa County charitable programs, and for repair by Trips for Kids in Marin," added Preston. New and/or used bikes and trikes-in working order or repairable, or useable bike parts may be delivered to the side driveway of the Preston's home at 1307 Larch Avenue in Moraga, throughout the month of November only. Bike Helmets are especially needed (no skateboards please). There is no need to call beforehand, but for more information, contact Bobbie or Tom Preston at (925) 376-8474.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA