This issue highlights our volunteer appreciation picnic. Each of your efforts is what makes the RCB magic happen - positively impacting so many individuals in our community. The Board of Directors decided it was time to retire the "Recycling Bikes for Rochester" and replace it with a statement that better reflects that we are "Improving Lives - One Bike at a Time"
RCB volunteers and their families gathered at Kusak Lodge, Camp Eastman, on a beautiful September Sunday to celebrate the amazing people behind all the good work we accomplish. Attendees enjoyed delicious food catered by Texas BBQ, and special recognition awards were presented. It was a fun event filled with gratitude, connection, and appreciation for the dedication that makes our mission possible. We also extend a heartfelt thank you to the volunteers who were unable to join us—you are an essential part of our success, and we value all that you do!
2024 Special Recognition Awards
Volunteer of the Year – Dale Maddock
Newbie of the Year - Sarah Beisheim
Above and Beyond - Simon Barrett
Certificates of Appreciation - Dave Allen, Sarah Beisheim, Zelma Kostyshak and Rob Potter
Volunteers who have logged at least 100 hours of service in 2024 were recognized at the picnic with this custom RCB ornament created by Steve Christensen. Additional service recognitions are planned at our annual Christmas party.
Bicycles Built for Two
The tandem initiative kicked off earlier this year and is gaining momentum to place tandems with individuals who are not able to ride a single bike but can experience the joy of biking as stoker with another person piloting the tandem. Here is the recent tandem activity.
Happiness is a new tandem! Kiki and her partner Chris received an upgraded tandem as part of RCB's efforts to connect people with disabilities such as visual impairments to experience the joy of riding. You may have seen the video of their first ride on RCB's Facebook page.
Joette and Terry with their first tandem courtesy of RCB. Joette will be the Captain (or Pilot) for Terry the Stoker (or Copilot.) They are super excited to get back to riding together again after Terry quit single biking because of a visual impairment. They send their thanks to our bike donors!
The Erie Canal Boat Company (the ECBC) is an adaptive boating and cycling center on the Canal in Fairport. Peter Abele of the ECBC is shown with a brand new tandem that was donated to them through Rochester Accessible Adventures (RAA). RCB tuned the tandem and it will be available at the center for giving rides to people of all abilities. We hope to provide more tandems to Peter and to work with Anita O’Brien of RAA to train “Canal Pals” as tandem assistants to provide rides and training for folks with special needs. Should a client want to have a tandem of their own, it may be an opportunity to donate one of our tandems to them.
RCB in the News again!
"Bikes for Back to School"
13WHAM's Chris Lopez visited 226 Hudson at the start of the school year to highlight the work we do to repair and distribute bicycles to make them more accessible to the community. (Photo by Terry Hancock/WHAM)."
Thursday November 28 - Saturday November 30 - Thanksgiving Weekend
Tuesday December 24 - Wednesday 25 - Christmas Eve / Christmas Day
Tuesday December 31 - Wednesday January 1 - New Year's Eve / New Year's Day
Collecting Winter Hats and Gloves
As colder weather is fast approaching, we would appreciate donations of hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. These are given to our clients as needed. Donations can be dropped off at the office.
New 226 Hudson Exterior
If you have been to the shop recently you will have seen the exterior improvements in progress. The stone and siding are now complete and the results look great! Thanks to Wright's Remodeling for their work.
A new RCB sign will be added. We know many were sad to see the previous mural covered during the renovation so longer term plans include adding a mural to the exterior. In the meantime, a small version of the previous Woodbury mural will be displayed in the office.
R Community Bikes | 226 Hudson Ave | Rochester, NY 14605 US
