Some of the bicycles handed out during the 2020 Bike Exchange campaign. Photo Credit: Norm Amirault

The annual Region of Queens bike exchange is once again up and rolling for 2021.

Beginning Monday, residents looking for a gently used bike in good working order can choose from one of the many that will be posted on the bike exchange Facebook page.

Throughout the year, the Region accepts donations of used bicycles and turns them over to be repaired before being offered to the community.

Region of Queens active living coordinator Norm Amirault says the first bike exchange held in 2019 was modelled after other similar programs that were successful around the South Shore.

With the help of their partners Liverpool Adventure Outfitters, 18 bikes were distributed in person that first year and that number increased to 25 bikes in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amidst COVID increased demand for cycling or bikes, bike parts and bike supplies went way, way up,” said Amirault. “So God love ‘em, they’ve continued to do our repairs and they’ve always done a great job.

Now in its third year, another partner has come on board to sponsor the bike exchange.

The Liverpool Kinsmen club has stepped up to cover the costs of repairing the donated bicycles.

Each bike the Region gives away also comes with a helmet, and the Kinsmen are covering the costs of buying those as well.

In honour of that generosity, the Region has renamed the event the, “Kinsmen club of Liverpool bike exchange”.

The event will be held exclusively online again. Fifteen bikes will be listed to start this year’s bike exchange. Amirault says they have another 15 or so that will be offered up after the initial batch has been distributed.

Amirault said the aim of the bike exchange is to provide people the opportunity to be more physically active but you can’t overlook the positive impacts of a community looking out for one another.

“It’s been really, really gratifying to see a couple of things. People of all ages in our community receiving bikes who might not otherwise have gotten them and it’s been really gratifying to see people, residents who say, yup, I’ll get you a bike and donate it,” said Amirault.

Anyone with a bike they would like to donate to the bike exchange program can drop it off at the Region of Queens municipal office on White Point Road.

To view the available bikes head to the Kinsmen club of Liverpool bike exchange event Facebook page.

Amirault says the bikes will be listed starting at 7:00pm.

To claim a bicycle, simply leave your name in the comments under that bike and Region staff will contact the recipients on a first come, first served basis to arrange delivery.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

Liverpool Kinsmen members. Photo credit: Liverpool Kinsmen

The Liverpool Kinsmen are marking a significant milestone.

Established in 1945, the service organization has been making a difference in the community for 75 years.

Members gathered for a photo Saturday but chapter president Brian Godfrey said by necessity, they’re keeping the recognition low-key.

“Normally we would have had all the different service groups in town, the mayor and other members from other clubs would’ve been here but because of COVID-19 we couldn’t do anything other than what we are right now, letting people know what we do,” said Godfrey.

And what they do is significant to Liverpool.

Godfrey said since 1975 the organization has raised $900,000 to reinvest back into Queens County. The Kinsman have donated money to Queens General Hospital, Queens Place, air cadets, minor hockey and the legion, to name a few.

They are also closely involved in the schools.

“We donate out to the North Queens High School, we donate a $2,000 bursary out there, also, the milk program, the breakfast program out there, same as the schools here in town, we have a $2,000 bursary every year for a high school student,” said Godfrey. “We support the breakfast programs at the Wickwire and we also support the lunch programs at the middle school here in town.”

It’s not just opening a chequebook. The service group also pitches in their time to help where they’re needed during many events throughout the community.

Godfrey, who’s been a Kinsmen member since 1980 said while giving to your community you also get back.

“So it’s a personal learning experience for you too. It can help you down the road too. Like myself, treasurer, well now I’m treasurer here at QCCR, I’ve been treasurer for many, many different organizations but I learned through Kinsmen,” said Godfrey.

Shortly after he joined, the Kinsmen launched their long-running fundraiser TV Bingo. The program went mostly uninterrupted for the past 40 years until the pandemic hit earlier this year.

Godfrey estimates the organization lost around $15,000 when they had to halt production between March and September.

While losing that income was a hit to their coffers, in terms of logistics, it may have been a blessing in disguise.

To meet COVID-19 guidelines the Kinsmen moved the shooting location of their TV bingo from Brooklyn to a newly built studio in the Investors Group building on Milton road in Liverpool.

“We got a brand new studio, all digital and a lot more space. We like it there, easier access for people coming and going, especially some of our older members,” said Godfrey. “They have a difficult time getting up stairs. They don’t have to worry about that. So we do have some of the older ones said, yes we can work now because we don’t have to climb those steps back in in Brooklyn where the old studio was.”

Godfrey said when the Kinsmen started back in 1945 they boasted 50 members. The group now consists of 10 full-timers and two prospects.

He said most of the members have been with the organization for a long time, and they hope to expand those numbers. With the youngest member in their late-20s, they’re always recruiting.

“We don’t want to get together too often so we have a meeting once a month. It’s usually a cooked meal at someone’s house or outdoors somewhere,” said Godfrey.

He says while the pandemic has curtailed a lot of the work they would normally do during the year they continue to find ways to assist the community.

Their next project will be helping to put Christmas dinner on the table for a couple hundred families working alongside other community groups on the Christmas cheer box program.

“Our motto is serving the community’s greatest needs,” said Godfrey. “Where we see a need out there, we help out.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson