Johnstown Cycle Shop Brightens Holiday for Children in Need

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Johnstown, PA (Dec. 22, 2021) – For many of us, getting a bicycle for Christmas is a cherished childhood memory, but a purchase like that can be out of reach for families struggling financially. With Christmas just days away, 40 children from The Learning Lamp After School Outreach Program received shiny, refurbished bicycles and new helmets to celebrate the holiday, courtesy of Hope Cyclery.

Jarrod Bunk, founder and co-owner of the Johnstown cycle shop, has made it his mission to ensure children who might otherwise miss out on having a bicycle of their own share in that life’s milestone. “Whether you’re five or fifty years old, there’s always one memory which most people can recall. What’s that experience? Riding a bicycle for the first time!” said Bunk. “If it’s something that magical, we believe that magic should be shared with the world, and every child deserves a bicycle regardless of their family’s income.”

Using a donated U-Haul, The Learning Lamp picked up the cycles from Hope Cyclery earlier this week. Bunk and co-owner David Lane, seen here at the Oakhurst Community Room, distributed the bikes, adjusted the seats, and ran through the ins and outs of safe cycling with children and their parents.

“We reached out to all of our families to see if their children needed bicycles,” explained Val Fletcher, Outreach Counselor. “The parents who responded were so grateful for the donations, and the children were beyond excited. What a tremendous gift from Hope Cyclery. Jarrod and David truly made their Christmases.”

Hope Cyclery accepts donated bicycles in good condition starting in September of each year. The shop donates the parts and helmets, a cost of up to $7,000, plus nearly $4,000 in billable labor to refurbish the bikes, then partners with organizations like The Learning Lamp to find those bicycles a home. Over the past three years, Hope Cyclery has given away more than 200 refurbished bicycles to children in need in the Johnstown area.

“Simply put, we believe bicycles are a vehicle of hope, a way to experience something outside,” Bunk commented. “Bicycles can transform lives. If everyone rode a bicycle, the world would be a better place for sure.”

For more information on how you can support Hope Cyclery’s Annual Bike Giveaway, visit www.hopecyclery.com. To learn more about The Learning Lamp’s free After School Outreach Program and how to enroll your child, click here.

The Learning Lamp is a nonprofit organization with a mission to engage all children in the support they need to succeed. We deliver high quality programs that are affordable and accessible to families of all income levels. In 2020, The Learning Lamp served 28,938 youth/adults from 51 public school districts and 36 other schools and organizations in 13 Pennsylvania counties.

Our programs include: child care and preschool, after school programs, tutoring, SAT prep, school staffing, alternative education programs for at-risk students, online learning, credit recovery, drug and alcohol prevention programs, and grant writing and project consulting for schools.