Sunshine

Damion, a resident at the Boys Ranch, helps unload bikes on the
Waco campus. First UMC Grapevine donated 106 bicycles this year
for MCH’s residential campuses and outreach offices.
“Our entire church looks forward to this project every
year, and even though our Sunday School class leads and organizes
the project, this is the church’s project and everyone
looks forward to it. It really is not Christmas for us until this
project rolls around each year,” Kanaga said.
The project starts off each September when the church
communicates with MCH to see how many bicycles are desired.
The church then establishes a preliminary budget and
begins working with a sporting goods store in Grapevine to select
bicycles and negotiate costs. By early November, the store
gets back with First UMC Grapevine with the total costs for
bicycles, helmets and accessories. Kanaga then finalizes the
budget to present to the church administrator who submits
the fundraising request for approval by the finance committee.
Fundraising lasts for three to four weeks.
On the Friday before the scheduled Saturday delivery,
church representatives rent a truck and pick up all the bicycles.
They then take the bicycles back to a group of 75-80 volunteers
who spend the next four hours assembling and inspecting the
bicycles. Then, the bikes are reloaded and delivered to MCH for
youth to enjoy by Christmas.
“This project has so many ways to participate and plug in
that we see many different faces from year to year. Some of the
same people have been with us throughout the years but we
see a lot of new faces each year which really keeps the project
new and fresh,” Kanaga said.
Trey Oakley, vice president for development, said this
generous donation has become a fond memory of many youth.
“It’s one of our most consistent traditions. When alumni
come back and speak about the generosity they received here,
they frequently bring up the bike they received and were able
to take home with them when they left MCH,” Oakley said.
In December 2012, First UMC Grapevine donated 106 bicycles
to the Waco campus, Boys Ranch, Waxahachie campus and
outreach offices. Several bicycles are used by the recreation
department for activities and summer clubs.
“We truly appreciate the donation. The bikes provide us
another opportunity to get outside and build relationships
with youth,” said Beth Harris, recreation coordinator for MCH.
“Youth feel a sense of accomplishment as they return to campus
from a bike ride. It is tough to ride up and down all the
hills just to leave and return from campus, and our young people
work hard to finish every ride.”
Oakley adds that the generosity of First UMC Grapevine
provides a fun experience for children and youth.
“Many of our youth have gone through trauma and disappointment
and grown up too fast,” Oakley said. “When our
friends at First UMC Grapevine donate these bicycles, they
are creating a special childhood memory for our children and
youth. For many of these children, it is the first bike they have
ever owned.”
“... this is the church’s project and everyone
looks forward to it. It really is not Christmas for
us until this project rolls around each year.”
— Scott Kanaga, member, First United Methodist Church of Grapevine
Sunshine I Winter 2013
7