From the beginning of the pandemic I was pretty sure our goal post was going to be April 2021. Of course we collected nothing in spring 2020 but did moderately well in the fall. We really expected a great spring 2021 season. Unfortunately most of our spring collectors are with churches and public schools, most of which were closed because of the pandemic. So rather than 30 spring collections, we had only seven. That moved our goal post to September 2021. In late August or September we will really be able to open up and collect a lot of bikes.

A funny thing happened last year. Our production totals in fiscal 2020 were down by 35% compared to 2019. But then last fall’s collections fell into fiscal 2021 and although we had very few collections in the spring of 2021, the Faith Lutheran Church of New Providence, New Jersey, collected 402 bicycles and two sewing machines in one day!

We had hoped to ship a minimum of three containers of bicycles and sewing machines in spring 2021 on the presumption of 25+ collections. The rollout of the vaccines has been a wonderful thing for everyone, but did not quite get here in time to save our spring season and its tiny total of 7 collections. That said, some days it just rains bikes. So we are in fact shipping a third container, Tanzania #8, on July 10th. In May, we shipped Rwanda #1 and Togo #4.

Thanks to all you donors and supporters of Pedals for Progress and Sewing Peace. We are making fundamental changes in the economic livelihood of thousands of people per year. While we empower individuals to be more productive because of bicycles and sewing machines, our partner organizations use their distribution business to make money for other projects, such as handicapped children’s schooling, skill training centers, and reforestation projects, to name just a few. And here in the US we prevent tons of used bikes and sewing machines from ending up in landfills. It’s a win-win-win.

With your support Pedals for Progress is going to come out of this pandemic stronger than before, with a laser-like focus on economic development and protecting the environment. Thank you for your continuing support. I am always appreciative of your generosity toward the most needy.