Penn State, Freeze Thaw Cycles Turn Abandoned Bikes into Gifts for Local Teens

Centre County Toys for Tots collects more than 15,000 gifts for local children in need. Though Toys for Tots campaigns nationwide ask for presents for children from newborns to age 16, many of the donations they receive are for younger kids.

Seeing an opportunity to make sure there were enough items for teenagers as well, Penn State Transportation Services employee Cyndi Snyder suggested that unclaimed bicycles left on the University Park campus and stored at Lion Surplus could be donated to Toys for Tots, according to a Penn State news release.

Transportation Services and Lion Surplus worked with State College’s Freeze Thaw Cycles, which repaired and restored bikes to nearly new condition, and donated them to be gifts for local teens.

“As rewarding as it is to see abandoned bikes get a second life as gifts, it’s even more special to think these gifts could begin a lifelong habit that promotes wellness and sustainability,” Cecily Zhu, alternative transportation programs coordinator for Transportation Services, said in the release.

Freeze Thaw co-owner Justin Wagner said it was a rewarding experience to restore the bikes for a good cause.

“We’re excited for this opportunity to fix up these bikes for teens in the community,” says Justin Wagner, co-owner of Freeze Thaw. “We hope those who receive these bikes will enjoy them for years to come.”