Tampa nonprofit supports community one bike at a time

Bike build at Amalie Arena

Ariel Plasencia reports

TAMPA, Fla. - One Tampa nonprofit is providing bikes to unprivileged children this holiday season.

Volunteers gathered at Amalie Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 11, to build 1,000 bikes for underprivileged kids as part of Tampa nonprofit Onbikes' annual bike assembly event.

"Everyone remembers your first bike. Everyone remembers the nostalgic element of it," Onbikes co-founder Julius Tobin told FOX 13 News. "To be able to provide that for someone who may be going through something, I think everyone can relate to that."

Onbike volunteers building bikes for Tampa children.

Onbike volunteers build bikes for Tampa children.

Tobin described bicycles as representing freedom and having the ability to open the door to adventure.

READ: Bikes from the Heart’ works to meet growing need in community for transportation

Onbikes works with over a dozen organizations, including Children’s Cancer Center and Foster Angels, who will help get these bikes to at-risk kids across the Bay area.

"The bikes aren't just for the kids. They're for families," Tobin said. "We really pride ourselves in helping foster relationships. And how do we make parents, teachers, and coaches the heroes? We're not the heroes. We're just a facilitator."

Tobin said Onbikes works with manufacturers, including Schwinn and Mongoose, to acquire the bikes.

Since the bikes come in boxes, volunteers are needed to assemble them.

Onbike volunteers build bikes for Tampa children.

Event organizers told FOX 13 News that volunteers learned how to put each bike together in less than five minutes on Wednesday.

READ: Children's Dream Fund granting wishes this holiday season

"I want them to remember the difference it makes for each kid, not just for the holiday season, but the impact it makes every time they're able to take off on that bike, be able to have that moment for themself or anyone," Ashley Smith, who was volunteering at Wednesday’s event with her company, J.J. Taylor Distributing, said.

Onbikes will host its annual Winter Wonder Ride this Saturday, Dec. 14. For more information on this year’s new route – and other details on the afterparty concert, click here.

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