Kids earn new bikes by helping their community

Greater Sudbury's top cop calls the Earn-A-Bike program a fantastic partnership that brings to life a good work ethic in the city's youth.

Greater Sudbury's mayor says she's thankful, from the bottom of her heart, for the hard work the youth involved with the program put into make their community better.

Both Chief Paul Pedersen and Mayor Marianne Matichuk addressed on June 17 the more than 12 youth who earned bikes this year through the program.

“This program is all about teaching young people that when you work for something, you're rewarded for it,” Pedersen said.

The Earn-A-Bike program is a partnership between Tim Hortons, Greater Sudbury Police Service, the Outside Store and other organizations and schools. It's goal is to teach youth that giving back to their community is rewarding. Not only do participants get a new bike, but they also get a sense of accomplishment by making their neighbourhood a nicer place in which to live.

Children are selected by Greater Sudbury Police Service, local organizations and schools to participate in the program. They are between the ages of 10 and 14. Each participant commits to 30 hours of community work, cleaning up parks, streets and parking lots, or helping to paint over graffiti.

They had been working toward their goal since February, some since as early as last September, said Denise Fraser, crime prevention branch of Greater Sudbury Police Service.

“These youth take pride in their effort to make their city a better place, some giving more than 200 hours of their time helping around their communities,” said Fraser.

This was the 14th year for the program in Sudbury. Almost 500 bikes have been handed out to deserving children since its inception.