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It’s not often a Wheels for Winners mechanic is greeted with a kiss, especially from a three or four year-old, new Wisconsin and United States resident.

A Syrian family of six came in last Tuesday evening, November 21, brought by Open Doors for Refugees. Alan, a Wheels mechanic, relayed this heartwarming story.

Three of the children needed bikes with training wheels. They were the cutest ever. After they had gone outside to load up the bikes, the third youngest little girl came back, opened the shop door, waved at us, and blew us a kiss. Our hearts were instantly puddles on the floor!

“Wheels for Winners’ staff are all volunteers. Special moments like these and the Smiles on Bike Earners’ faces are why we volunteer,” says Board Chairperson Neil McCallum.

Wheels for Winners provided bikes to 3 generations of bike earners from Syria and 3 earners from Tanzania thanks to our partnership with Open Doors for Refugees. Open Doors says, “We support new and recent arrivals in a variety of ways, largely through a network of volunteer teams. Most notably, our Donations and Move-In teams collect donations of furniture and household items and use them to furnish and stock apartments for arriving refugees. We also have teams that provide Translation, Transportation, ESL, and Employment services.”

Bikes help recent refugees get around town, to work, run errands, get to know their new neighborhoods with their children and get acclimated to their new life here in Dane County.

Thanks to Open Doors for Refugees for all you do!

It’s not often a Wheels for Winners mechanic is greeted with a kiss, especially from a three or four year-old, new Wisconsin and United States resident.

A Syrian family of six came in last Tuesday evening, November 21, brought by Open Doors for Refugees. Alan, a Wheels mechanic, relayed this heartwarming story.

Three of the children needed bikes with training wheels. They were the cutest ever. After they had gone outside to load up the bikes, the third youngest little girl came back, opened the shop door, waved at us, and blew us a kiss. Our hearts were instantly puddles on the floor!

“Wheels for Winners’ staff are all volunteers. Special moments like these and the Smiles on Bike Earners’ faces are why we volunteer,” says Board Chairperson Neil McCallum.

Serving Madison and Dane County, Wheels for Winners is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization operating an earn-a-bike program that provides refurbished bicycles to individuals who perform community service.

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