Al's Bike Drive donates nearly 600 bikes to Toys for Tots

Sixteen years ago, Gibsonia resident Al Todd attended an annual corporate luncheon supporting Toys for Tots. Little did he know at the time how much his simple act of kindness would impact families across Western Pennsylvania.

“I brought a toy and as I was helping a Marine load his van at the end of the luncheon, I asked him how my wife and I could help out a little more. The Marine explained that for gifts amounting to more than $30 in value, the toy has to be donated directly. He also said that bikes were always in high demand,” Todd said. “For me, growing up, the bicycle was the primary mode of transportation, so it was really important to me to see what I could do about getting bikes to some kids.”

He went around to family and friends to raise donations. His company, Thrivent Financial, matched the funds he raised. That first year, Todd raised enough money to purchase 33 bikes.

Al’s Bike Drive has since grown to be its own nonprofit organization. The bike drive is 100% volunteer-run, and all fundraising comes from word of mouth, emails and social media. This year, Al Bike’s Drive donated 583 bikes.

This is the second year that Al’s Bike Drive has partnered with Variety, a children’s charity that provides mobility and communication equipment to disabled children. This year the bike drive was able to build and donate 15 adaptive bikes for kids with disabilities and special needs through the partnership. Each bike is custom-made based on the child’s individual needs.

Al’s Bike Drive supplies bikes to three Toys for Tots groups in Pennsylvania – Springdale, Butler and Beaver. All of the bikes are purchased through the Walmart in Richland.

“It’s very exciting knowing that the kids’ faces are going to light up on Christmas morning. I know when I got my granddaughter her first bicycle, she glowed for days,” said Richland Walmart’s store manager Carri Swidwa. “So, it’s just a really awesome feeling knowing that we get to help make the holiday special for kids in need.”

The height of the pandemic caused problems for the bike drive due to supply chain shortages, but it didn’t discourage people from donating.

“I’m always amazed by the generosity of the people who donate,” Todd said. “I was really worried during covid that fundraising would be more challenging, but surprisingly the donations continued to go through. Our annual budget is about $80,000 and we pretty much raise it all in the 30 days leading up to the bike drive.”

On Dec. 7, volunteers came out to the Richland Walmart to transport the bikes. Al’s Bike Drive caravan was escorted by the Hampton Fire Department and Northern Regional police to Wildwood Country Club in Hampton. The volunteers enjoyed a luncheon at the country club and officially presented the bikes to the Marines. The bikes were distributed to families the following week.

“I never set out to form a charity. This idea sort of found me,” Todd said. “I’ve had the opportunity to see some of the families receive the bikes and some of them just break into tears and cry with gratitude because of what we were able to do for them. It’s a very emotional thing to see and experience and it makes all the difference in the world to me. I’m very humbled and very grateful to all of the volunteers and donors that helped to make this happen.”

Donations can still be made through the end of the year by visiting alsbikedrive.com.