By Wendy Taylor
Special to the Observer
Hosted by Bunnin Chevrolet in Culver City, and sponsored by Kids are 1st, a non-profit organization, a fiesta-feeling event gathered many together on Sunday, September 7 to promote childhood safety and benefit others.
The all-day event was packed with people and booths, representing many community organizations, including LADWP, California Highway Patrol, LA Metro, Culver City Police, and the two Rotary clubs. Visitors could adopt a pet and get free lunch sponsored by the host.
By far the most popular booth was Fleet Street's "Free Bike Repair," a program of Woodland Hills Rotary Club and its partner Pacific Boys Lodge in Woodland Hills. The Boys Lodge is a youth services organization that promotes a supportive, therapeutic residential environment for boys 12 to 18 who are in the juvenile justice system.
Culver City Rotary members were also on hand to support the event.
Fleet Street volunteers teach the boys from Boys Lodge to fix and repair donated bicycles. Fleet Street then gives those bikes for free to homeless shelters, youth organizations, and those less fortunate members of the community who need a bike.
In the process, the boys from Pacific Boys Lodge learn the skills of bike repair, and experience the joy of giving to others.
Visitors could bring their bicycles to the Fleet Street event booth for free repair (parts and labor) by the Fleet Street boys and their mentors. There were more than a dozen happy visitors who were able to ride their bikes home that day thanks to the efforts of Fleet Street.
In addition, Fleet Street brought to the Culver City event a half-dozen brand new Huffy children's bikes for a free raffle conducted at the end of the day by State Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas.
Dana Sherman, co-founder of Fleet Street and a member of Woodland Hills Rotary, says: "Together, the Fleet Street boys and volunteers bring hope and happiness to others, one bike at a time. In the two years that Fleet Street has been in existence, we've given away about 300 bikes to the community and done free repairs on many dozen more.
"Through the generous support of Woodland Hills Rotary we've worked with about a dozen young men to teach them responsibility, attention to detail, cooperation, and learning skills-and we expect to do much more in the future," adds Sherman.
Joel Forman, president of Culver City Rotary Club, had this to say: "One of the great joys is community service. Through programs like Fleet Street and Pacific Boys Lodge, Rotary plays an important role in helping teenagers turn their lives around. Instead of becoming gang members, these young men are becoming productive members of society. Fleet Street changes the boys from part of the problem to part of the solution."
Elias, age 18, who was a Boys Lodge resident and is now a Fleet Street volunteer, said, "Because of Fleet Street co-founder Steve Musnicky and the other mentors I have learned to fix bikes and how to play music and write poetry."
Elias red one of his poems to the Woodland Hills Rotary Club, and it was published on its website. "It broke my fears and gave me the courage to move my life forward," said Elias. "I want to be a chef one day, and all these people from Boys Lodge, Fleet Street and Rotary are encouraging me to pursue my goal-they taught me I have tools for changing my life."
For more information about Fleet Street, to volunteer, or to donate a used bike, go to http://www.fleetstreetbikes.com or call 844-353-3878 (toll free).
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