BETTENDORF, Iowa — Every year for the last seven years, the Quad Cities Bicycle Club has hosted a campaign to raise money to buy bikes to donate to the Quad Cities Toys for Tots drive. The first year the group donated one bike, according to Jackie Wessels.
The program has grown every year since.
In 2021 the group was able to donate 130 bikes. This year, the group set a goal of 150 bikes. So far, they have 200 bikes that will benefit Quad Cities youth.
Each child isn't just gifted a bike, though. They also get a helmet, air pump and lock for larger bikes, and, to make the gift even sweeter, a Whitey's gift card is also included.
On Tuesday, the Quad Cities Bicycle Club held their "Nice not Naughty" event to make sure every bike package is nice and not naughty for area youth.
"Making sure they are ready to go for Christmas morning, so children can right their bikes. Maintenance is being done on each and every bike, we pump up every tire, we make sure every bike has a helmet and the large bikes as well have locks," said Wessels.
According to the Quad Cities Bike Club GoFundMe page for the campaign, each gift set costs around $130.00. The donation portion of the event is open until Dec. 6. You can donate to the program through their GoFundMe page by clicking here.
The bikes will then be taken to Toys for Tots to be given out at their distribution event later in December.
WQAD will be accepting Toys for Tots donations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Viewers can also drop off during a collection event from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29 outside of the station, located at 3003 Park 16th St. in Moline.
New and unwrapped toys are accepted. Please no clothes, stuffed animals, religious items or realistic weapons. Nerf guns are OK.
Toys for Tots historically has the lowest amount of donations for children between ages 10 and 12.
The Quad Cities Bicycle Club was the winner of the WQAD and Ascentra Credit Union Pay It Forward award in 2021 for their incredible work for the community.
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