Volunteers Build 500+ Bikes For Needy Kids In Record Time

COACHELLA – Augustine Casino’s parking lot transformed into a makeshift bike factory Thursday morning.

Volunteers raced against the clock to assemble 513 bikes.

“Once you get past the first one,” said volunteer Dave Moholland, of San Jacinto, “you stick with the same model, and it gets easier.”

The Augustine Indian tribe spent over $22,000 on these bikes. It is the most bikes that Martha’s Village has received ever for their annual Christmas giveaway.

“It’s what kids prefer,” explained Claudia Castorena, of Martha’s Village. “It’s the big attraction for the little kids. We want to please the kids.”

Indio resiresidente Johnson volunteered his time and muscles. He says it brings back great memories of his very first bike.

“All of the excitement of it: being able to ride around…the wind in your hair!

Martha’s Village is expecting over 2,000 kids to be lining up for a bike. But, of course, not every kid will get one. Maybe one out of every four kids. But, that’s a better ratio than in previous years when it was one out of every three to four families.

Martha’s Village says they have a week to figure out a plan on how they will distribute the bikes without causing a ruckus.

But, for those lucky 513 kids, they’ll be riding high on Christmas Day.