By Kelly S. – Recycle Bicycle Harrisburg Volunteer
with 2 of her 5 kiddos in 2018.
One of the challenges of being a mom of 5, especially a mom of a 3-year-old autistic, non-verbal, little ball of sunshine, is that I can’t find time to volunteer at conventional times or in conventional ways. But my experience in riding bikes with kids spans two decades and includes nearly every permutation of kid-hauler solution you could imagine.
I was at an event sponsored by Andrews’ Gift, a charity that provides iPads to people with autism to increase learning and communication, I met a single mother from Romania, Elena, whose son David was just a little younger than my daughter. As we talked more, I learned that English was her THIRD language.
While overseas, she had European driver’s license, but she had never gotten one in the United States.
I asked Elena if she had a bicycle. She told me she didn’t. She wanted one, but had no idea how to ride with her little boy. I suggested a bike trailer, since toddlers (especially autistic toddlers), can be unpredictable and cause mischief on a rear baby seat. For Elena, cost was an issue.
Recycle Bicycle Harrisburg to the rescue! We exchanged information, I got her height and bike preferences, and I went to the RBH shop to get a bike and trailer. The bike was easy – there was a ladies mountain bike ready to go, but the trailer was missing a part. A volunteer at the shop helped find me the part and some pieces of hardware to make it functional (a “MacGyver-like” skill possessed by many volunteers).
I dropped off the rig along with a little helmet at her home the next day and Elena loved it! Elena is looking forward to many rides with David to parks, stores, and bike paths near their home. The gift of a bike and trailer will expand their world, allowing them to do more social activities, all of which is therapeutic for David.
Thanks to all who volunteer and donate to make moments like this possible!