They came to school expecting just a normal day. But by the time they left, 830 four to ten-year-old children at Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary, a Title 1 school in Chandler, Arizona, had the surprise of a lifetime–a shiny new bike WITH helmet, pump and locks.
This special day was the result of the combined forces of Katie Blomquist’s Going Places nonprofit, the DeeAnn Flores Schertz Foundation and the blood, sweat and tears of more than 60 volunteers!
We’ve followed the ceaseless efforts of Katie’s Going Places for years now as they’ve provided thousands of bikes to disadvantaged children in Charleston, South Carolina. You can check out our podcast with Stacey Gualandi and Katie here.
Recently Katie decided to take her nonprofit national when she received a special invite from the Schertz Foundation in Chandler. DeeAnn had been a teacher at a low income school and used to give kids bikes.
DeeAnn has since passed away, but to remember her 60th birthday on Feb. 12th, her family felt that providing children bikes at a local school would be the perfect way to remember their mother.
So Going Places took on the challenge, packed their bags and headed West. Their task: gathering hundreds of new bikes, large trucks, bike supplies and volunteers in a brand new city in six days.
From a dusty school field, Katie’s team and volunteers began their transformation of the space with an endless supply of small, medium and large bikes (along with extra surprises in red totes).
First, they assembled everything at Compass Christian Church, then loaded it all into huge trucks. The unloading began nearby at the school. One by one 830 bikes came off the big trucks. The smaller trucks stuffed with totes for the appropriate size bikes unloaded at the same time.
Joining the volunteer forces were little kids who rode the smaller bikes to their field destination; police aided by moving two bikes at a time; pickleball players from the local church helped organize the totes. Katie led it all and the dirt play area became a sea of red of bikes, all miraculously lined up according to size.
The students filed out of school quietly class by class and sat anxiously wondering what the surprise behind the big black curtain could be.
Screams of delight rang out as the curtain parted. The kids had to wait patiently for their new treasures until the end of the day but were more than excited to get the unexpected presents.
To congratulate Katie and Going Places, TWE presented the fearless leader with a Valentine’s Day cake. We like to share a special cake this time of year to a nonprofit that goes above and beyond to spread joy and kindness to a community. Going Places certainly fits the bill.
We wish Katie and her team all the best as they continue to expand; receive more grants; and find sponsors and communities with volunteers delighted to pitch in.
As Katie says, “The special experience of this day is that volunteers get to be part of it, and they’re going to see the kids riding these bikes around the community…and the kids can keep themselves and the bikes safe with the helmets, locks and bike pumps. It’s the continuing aftermath of being able to see 830 happy kids riding in their neighborhoods.”
To follow Katie Blomquist and Going Places:
Website: goingplacesnonprofit.org
Instagram: @katieblomquist, @going_places_nonprofit
Facebook: @GoingPlacesNonprofit
X/Twitter: @GoingPlacesNP
Photos: P. Burke
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