Mount Vernon Elks Lodge to gift donated, repaired bicycles

September 11 is a date all Americans remember, obviously, in somber terms.

But this year, at least in Skagit County, September 11 will also provide a positive spin.

That is the day that the Mount Vernon Elks Lodge will gift donated bicycles, host a bike safety rodeo and hold prize drawings as part of a multi-phased service project benefitting children of all ages.

“We are gathering used bikes, repairing them and gifting them back to the community,” Elks Lodge bookkeeper and member Debbie Denton, a La Conner area resident, told the Weekly News. “We are also swapping smaller bikes with larger bikes for kids who have outgrown them.”

The Elks Bicycle-Recycle campaign has several drop-off locations in Skagit County, including Anacortes and Mount Vernon. Elks members began collecting donated bikes last weekend.

They have drawn inspiration from Robert Cofer of Bob’s Garage in La Conner, who collects, refurbishes and donates bicycles locally from his workshop behind Stompin’ Grounds Coffee at Sixth and Morris streets.

Denton said the Mount Vernon Elks have been awarded a $5,500 grant in support of the program, which features several major components, including the purchase of adaptive bicycles for those who cannot ride traditional bikes.

In addition, the Elks bicycle recycle project includes bingo bike rides.

“This is a fun activity where kids and adults can earn prizes by filling the squares on a bingo card by riding to different destinations,” Denton said.

The next bingo bike ride game was posted on the MV Elks-Recycle-Bicycle Facebook page the first week of July, she said.

The bicycle recycle effort is the latest in a series of ongoing Elks community service programs, according to Denton.

“Despite being closed most of last year (due to COVID-19),” Denton said, “we gave over $5,000 to local food banks and another $2,000 to the Skagit Valley Family YMCA. “I had no idea how much charity work the Elks do for the community until I started working for them.”

Denton said bicycle donors have been sifting through garages, sheds and storage units to load up unused bikes for the Elks mission.

“Today we had so many bikes to pick up we couldn’t carry them all,” Denton said July 4.

Denton said the Elks can still use bike mechanics committed to helping the cause to supplement a corps of loyal volunteers. Among them is Jon Vater of Burlington, who repaired and donated a slew of bicycles in June, said Denton.

The goal is to match each child with an age-appropriate bike.

“If you have a bike that no longer fits your child and you wish to swap it for a larger bike,” said Denton, “every effort will be made to provide you with a bike in similar condition to the bike being gifted.”

Those wishing to participate with a bicycle donation can contact the Mount Vernon Elks Lodge at 360-848-8882 or reach out to Denton by phoning 360-770-4815.

Cash contributions can be mailed to 2120 Market Street, Mount Vernon, WA., 98273.