JUST WOW!

I’d like to sincerely thank everyone working behind the scenes with me for making this year—and particularly this fall—a wonderful success in our little world of bikes and sewing machines! Thanks to the very long list of groups and individuals we collaborate with, we have officially shipped our 170,000th bike since our founding in 1991.

While this milestone may not call for a red-carpet rollout, it is a significant and satisfying number that reflects the immense generosity I have felt from all of you this year. This fall alone, our collections averaged 65 bikes per collection, allowing us to make three shipments of bicycles to Guatemala, Belize, and Albania.

Of course, no successful season comes without its challenges. We experienced a few bumps along the way, particularly due to massive shipping delays caused by the five-day longshoreman strike that began on October 1st. Although the strike itself was brief, it set us back weeks in planning and cost us hundreds of dollars, delaying our first fall shipment to Guatemala. The ripple effects of the strike also delayed the arrival of our annual shipment of bikes from Vermont—made possible by FedEx—because the loaded Guatemala container was stuck in our warehouse, accruing costs daily.

The shipping industry experienced widespread disruptions, with weeks of delays and difficulties securing empty containers. Vessel bookings were frequently changed, adding to the uncertainty. While these were overwhelming days, we were able to persevere and navigate through the challenges thanks to our steadfast team and supportive network.

I’d like to extend a special thanks to the Newtown Rotary Club, which stepped up to help us when our storage overflowed with bikes. Due to shipping delays and a series of incredible collections, P4P faced the rare problem of having too many bikes. Thankfully, Jerry and the Newtown Rotary, particularly Alan Fidler, held onto the 150 bikes they collected for an additional three weeks. Those bikes are now officially on their way to Albania.

Beyond these logistical challenges, I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the incredible domestic support we’ve received this year. Having “too many bikes” is a problem I hope to face every year!

To continue this momentum, we’ve partnered with Marty’s Reliable Cycle, which is now accepting bike donations for us at its five locations across the state. Offering donors the option to drop off bicycles year-round has been a goal of mine. It pains me to turn down a donation in the middle of winter simply because our operations are closed. Thanks to this new partnership, donors can now drop off bicycles at any Marty’s Reliable location year-round.

We ask that donors continue contributing our requested $20 per item to help offset shipping costs. While Marty’s provides the drop-off locations, there are still costs involved, as we must make regular trips to retrieve donated bikes and maintain their storage spaces. Drop boxes at each location will be available for cash or check donations, and receipts will be provided. I’d like to thank Stephen Ellerman and the Morristown Rotary Club for helping us get this partnership underway. I’d also like to express my gratitude to the man behind it all, Jesse Epstein, who has been instrumental in this endeavor, continuing the remarkable legacy of generosity established by his late and great father, Marty.

Internationally, our programs abroad continue to thrive, making significant improvements in the communities they serve. Absolute Bikes in Albania received a container of bicycles from Working Bikes in Chicago earlier this year, meeting their spring demand and tagging us back in for a shipment this fall. FIDESMA in Guatemala received its annual shipment, further cementing a 25-year tradition of collaboration with P4P. Belize accepted its fifth shipment, which is particularly special to me after witnessing their program firsthand. Their efforts to provide homes and sewing machines to single mothers in need are inspiring, all made possible by your donated machines and the funds raised through bicycle sales.

In Africa, we supported an exciting new program with a shipment of 450 bikes destined for rural farmers. These bicycles are expected to significantly improve the daily lives of farmers by providing much-needed transportation.

There’s so much great news from this fall and the year as a whole, which I encourage you to read about in this year’s newsletter. This is always a special time of year for us at P4P. As we close our doors for the winter to prepare for spring collections, we take this opportunity to reflect on and share the incredible achievements made possible by your generosity. We also look ahead to the coming spring, when we’ll once again be ready to accept your donations.

I’m incredibly excited for the next season and hope to see many of you along the way. I encourage you to learn more about the amazing work being done overseas—it’s a powerful reminder of just how transformative a bicycle can be. In the meantime, thank you for your continued support and belief in our cause. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!

“presidentsMessage.html” 25 lines, 5210 bytes written