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Aurora church hosts 100-bicycle giveaway

Posted May 25, 2022 1:00 am

Submitted by Al Benson

Rich Ricketts of Aurora, left, helps stepson Christian Knoth, 8, don a bicycle helmet May 21 at a 100-bike giveaway. New Covenant Full Gospel Church in Aurora hosted the second annual GPA Bike Giveaway of donated bikes and helmets. Courtesy of Al Benson

Saturday afternoon showers in Aurora didn't dampen a 100-bicycle giveaway.

New Covenant Full Gospel Church in Aurora hosted its second annual GPA Bike Giveaway.

The afternoon event featured distribution of donated bikes and helmets, refreshments and face painting.

Vickie Bozik, left, a Batavia Target store employee, paints a child's face at a second annual GPA Bike Giveaway Saturday, May 21, at New Covenant Full Gospel Church in Aurora. Other Target volunteers were Joe Lombardo, who welcomed attendees; and face painters Gwen Koznick and Theresa Johnsen. Target provided 20 bikes, popcorn and face painting. Courtesy of Al Benson

The giveaway was open to first through eighth grade public- and private-school pupils who achieved a 2.5 or better grade-point average.

They included Christian Knoth of Aurora, 8, a second-grade student at Dieterich Elementary School in Aurora. He was accompanied by stepfather Rich Ricketts.

Papa John's served pizza while Batavia Target provided 20 bikes, popcorn and face painting by three store volunteers.

Other co-sponsors were At Risk Mentoring, Unity Solar Group, World Boxing Council and author Dr. Robert Renteria who donated 100 copies of his "From the Barrio to the Board Room."

With bikes staged for distribution in background, the Rev. John Thompson, right, welcomes attendees to a second annual GPA Bike Giveaway Saturday, May 21, at New Covenant Full Gospel Church in Aurora. Courtesy of Al Benson

At Risk, a nonprofit, displayed its mobile technology center, a converted school bus.

The center is used for free software coding camps and transportation to Books and Basketball, a mentoring program for youth who need to improve grades and/or behavior.

Call (630) 476-0171 or visit atriskmentoring.org for more information.

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