© 2024 Blue Ridge Public Radio
Blue Ridge Mountains banner background
Your source for information and inspiration in Western North Carolina.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A revived Fayetteville nonprofit is low on inventory for its annual bike giveaway

Healthy Child and Adolescent Network’s program director Bernie Bogertey-Harvey posing in her warehouse.
Bernie Bogertey-Harvey
Healthy Child and Adolescent Network’s program director Bernie Bogertey-Harvey posing in her warehouse.

Fayetteville nonprofit Healthy Child and Adolescent Network, formerly known as Bicycle Man, aims to give away 500 bikes for their annual giveaway this Saturday to benefit children from low-income families. But with only 100 bikes in stock, they're asking for help to reach that goal in just a few days.

A Fayetteville nonprofit needs more bike donations as it prepares to host its annual giveaway for children from low income families this weekend.

The Healthy Child and Adolescent Network is a revived nonprofit that’s part of the legacy of Moses Mathis, who used to own the nonprofit Bicycle Man. After Mathis died in 2013, his wife took over the organization, then retired last year.

Bernie Bogertey-Harvey, program director of the Healthy Child and Adolescent Network, became connected to Bicycle Man because received help from the organization in the past and served on its board of directors for two decades. She said the organization has a goal to meet by Saturday.

“We have validated 500 applications,” said Bogertey-Harvey. “So we are going to give out 500 bikes, trikes, big wheels, scooters, whatever — I'm sticking to it. I have faith that the community is going to support it.”

Bogertey-Harvey said the organization currently only has 100 bikes and are short by 400. Bicycle Man used to give thousands of bikes away, and she hopes to make Mathis and his wife proud. The nonprofit is a critical part of the community, Bogertey-Harvey said.

“We're the only agency that provides bikes at the volume that we do because the churches may get a request for a bike or whatever, but we get the volume of requests,” she said.

Saturday’s bike giveaway event is for children between one and seven-years-old. It will be held at her warehouse on 786 Blue St. in Fayetteville. For those who want to donate a bike, they can contact Bogertey-Harvey.

Sharryse Piggott is WUNC’s PM Reporter.