When an individual (ages 9-18) goes through our Earn-a-Bike program, each participant walks away with a newly refurbished bike, helmet, lock, light set, and other program materials — equipment that supports safe, independent transportation well beyond the program itself. Contributions from funders and community members that support our sales/service location on Queen St. help close the financial gap, allowing us to offer the program on a sliding scale and keep it accessible to all of Lancaster's youth, regardless of ability to pay.

Kelvin moved to Lancaster from Zambia in 2022 and attended Reynolds Middle School. He first went through Earn-a-Bike in early 2025 and returned this summer to refresh his skills — since then, he's spent much of his summer break volunteering around The Common Wheel.

When asked about his favorite part of the program, Kelvin said he loved:

"Learning how to fix a bike and learning about tools that I never knew existed."

He can now fix brakes, something he couldn't do before, and says the program taught him:

"That I can help other people and teach them."

Riding the bike he built himself, he says:

"I feel fantastic that I am riding a bike that I fixed."

Kelvin worked hands-on in the shop, building the skills that now let him fix brakes and more.

Kelvin described Earn-a-Bike in one word:

"Fun, because I am learning so much about bikes".