If you have a bike of any size in good working condition that you don’t want anymore, you can donate it to a good cause at PortFest on Saturday, May 14. Bikes for the World is an organization that collects bikes to be distributed in countries where they are an important part of daily life.
Zach Marx embraced the cause as part of his bar mitzvah project last year at the Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore (RSNS) in Plandome with the assistance of his father, Kenny Marx, and Larry Silverman. Kenny, Zach and Larry started the New York chapter of the organization to open up the New York metropolitan area as a valuable channel for Bikes for the World collections. Last year, they collected over 50 bikes.
Kenny Marx has partnered with Damon Gersh, founder of PortFest, to again make PortFest a collection point for the bikes.
“We have tagged PortFest as our milestone collection date given the nature and timing of the event,” said Kenny. “We’re trying to spread the word to folks to bring their used bikes to PortFest.”
Collections will take place at the Schreiber High School campus. The donation of any bike is fully tax deductible for the value of the used bike.
“Bikes of the World will be set up on the pathway as you enter PortFest from the parking lot. If you bring a bike, you will get paperwork for a full tax deduction,” said Kenny. “The bikes will be loaded on the truck right there in the parking lot.”
Bikes of the World collects the bikes, transports them to the DC area, and then they are shipped to where they are needed. So far they’ve collected more than 100,000 bikes around the world.
“When I realized how much a bike can change a person’s life, it really hit a chord with me,” said Kenny. “Bikes for the World’s mission is to distribute used bicycles in Africa, Asia and Central America to transform lives by providing the means to travel. Bikes for the World has distributed over 100,000 bikes to date by partnering with local organizations to help disadvantaged people improve their lives.”
Kenny, who grew up in Great Neck, has two sons in Port schools.
“Clear out your garage and help Bikes for the World change lives,” said Kenny. Contact Kenny Marx at kennymarxbikes@gmail.com.
