Wednesday, June 29, 2016, Billings TrailNet received new bike tires, tubes and other bike parts for their program that provides refurbished bikes to low-income children.

The Bike Clinic, a church-based nonprofit organization that has been repairing bicycles for low-income children for the past 11 years, shut its doors last year due another project; a collaboration between Billings TrailNet and the School District’s KIM Trailer, which have been providing service to school children for the past two years.

Last December, Billings TrailNet gave away 90 bikes to children at Orchard Elementary school, and the KIM Trailer has provided repair clinics at several area schools and repaired hundreds of bicycles over the past two years.

After retiring the program in 2015, the Bike Clinic had extra tubes and tires left over and gave the supplies to Billings TrailNet.

Pastor Fred Rodda, the Bike Clinic’s main organizer, says that “collaboration truly IS key,” and is happy to provide the tubes and tires to Billings TrailNet after servicing or giving away nearly 5,000 bikes to low-income children over an 11-year span of time.

In the past, the Bike Clinic provided free bike repair service and fix-a-flat clinics to low-income children during annual events at the beginning of summer; however, the Bike Clinic announced at its last event in 2015, that it would be discontinuing its program as other organizations like the Billings Bike Project and the KIM Trailer have similar missions and efforts.

Billings TrailNet is continuing to accept new and gently used children’s bicycles. Donations are tax-deductible.