New Bicycles for Good Sam Kids

Santa Barbara- December 7th, 2009

Team Tailwinds, a local bicycle club, really love to ride their bicycles.  They love it so much, they wanted to provide the opportunity to local children to experience and grow in that same joy.  On December 18th, 35 bicycles will be provided free of charge to children ages 6 – 13 years old of families that utilize the After School Program at Good Samaritan Shelter.   The After School Program consists of all the children residing in Good Samaritan’s Emergency Shelter and Family Transitional Shelter Programs.  Business partner Main Street Cycles has provided quality bikes, locks and helmets at a reduced price for this program.  Each child at the Good Sam After School Program will also be fitted to the bike and helmet by the staff of Main Street Cycles and Team Tailwinds members.  Team Tailwinds formed a partnership with the Good Samaritan Shelter, and garnered donations from several other organizations including the Santa Maria Police Officers Association, Santa Barbara County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and Kardel Insurance Services amongst others support from the staff of Main Street Cycles. 

Hans Kardel, Finance Director of Team Tailwinds, got the idea from member Jack Boysen, who was inspired by a similar program.  “Each year Team Tailwinds sponsors a cycling related philanthropy.  Quality bicycles for children participating in Good Samaritan’s programs are a natural extension of our bicycle racing and cycling team.  Not only are bicycles fun to children, but also provide transportation, independence, fitness and responsibility,” said Kardel.   Good Sam Executive Director Sylvia Barnard commented, “The bicycle program is such a special project, providing normalcy to children that have experienced instability in their homelessness.  The bike program provides hope for stability for children that deserve it.”

The idea also joined with another unusual program that has been ongoing in Santa Barbara for several years.  Inmates from Santa Barbara County Jail refurbish abandoned bikes annually. 

With the help of Team Tailwinds and Good Samaritan Shelter, some of those bikes will be picked up by the Shelter at the SB Jail on Thursday December 10, 2010 for Charlene’s Closet, operated by Good Samaritan Shelter. The bikes will be distributed to children who are now living in the community and transitioned from homelessness into self-sufficiency.  The bicycles will be provided as Christmas presents to children who would not otherwise get to enjoy the wind in their faces, on their own bicycle.   

Several individuals and community groups have already stepped forward to provide funding for some of the bicycles.  If you would like to make a donation to provide a bicycle for a homeless child this Christmas, please contact Jack Boysen at Good Samaritan Shelter at 346-8185.

Good Samaritan Shelter -  Jack Boysen at (805) 346-8185 x 205
Team Tailwinds – Hans Kardel at Kardel Insurance Services (805)922-5283
Sheriff’s Inmate Services Program – Commander Thomas Jenkins (805) 681-4249
Main Street Cycles – Scott Clark (805) 922-5577

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