Feldman scrubs them clean with a Brillo pad, applies WD-40 where necessary,
inflates the tires, and sends them back on the road with a new owner.
The Brown freshman has been repairing bikes for needy children at home in
Shavertown, Pa., since she was a child of 8 herself, and is now considering
ways to continue her work here in Providence.
Both of her older sisters, Courtney and Barrett, tell her she must.
The three sisters started "Bikes for Tykes" a decade ago with just a flier and
the desire to help those in need.
They were inspired one day while cleaning out closets and the garage. Ashley's
old blue Schwinn was headed to the dump truck when it occurred to the sisters
to send it along with their plastic bags of clothes to the Salvation Army. They
rehabilitated it before they did so.
Afterward, the trio stuck fliers in neighborhood mailboxes asking for old
bikes, and bikes in all manner of disrepair began flooding in. "It was so much
fun that summer. I cleaned the bikes and I test-rode a lot of them," said
Feldman.
After they spruced up and donated about 100 bikes, the sisters felt they had
met the need of the small town of Shavertown. But various charity organizations
continued to call with requests.
"There was a need, and it didn't seem like a choice - it was just what we did,"
she said. "I had no idea it would be this big."
Soon Ashley took over Bikes for Tykes and began working with organizations such
as the United Way, Big Brothers, Big Sisters and shelters. Year after year, it
was her summer job to rehabilitate and donate bikes. Some could not be
salvaged. Those she used for parts.
Feldman did not always wait for bikes to come to her. In the spring of 1998,
she organized a bike drop-off and turned a local lot for impounded cars into a
workshop. More than 300 were donated, along with a $500 check with which she
purchased helmets.
Frequently organizations would pick up batches of completed bicycles. Other
times, Feldman would deliver them. On those occasions, a child would sometimes
be waiting to jump onto the gift and ride off.
Feldman was recognized for her work in May when she received a Prudential
Spirit of Community Award in Washington, D.C., and in an article in the October
issue of Teen People magazine.
Before leaving home for Brown, she tried to find someone to take over Bikes for
Tykes, without success. Each of her sisters has told her that Feldman must
continue the work.
They said, "You better do it at school - it's the perfect place," said Feldman.
"It would be really good to start here. There are enough people who are able
and willing."
Shortly after she moved into her dorm in Keeney Quad, a student across the hall
had a problem with his bicycle chain and Feldman thought she could apply her
knowledge and fix it. But the new bike - a one-pound model - stumped her.
"I think I'm better working with old bikes," she said. - Kristen Cole
Do you know someone at Brown who has an interesting avocation or public service
project? Call the George Street Journal at 863-2476 or send e-mail to
GSJ@brown.edu