Nonprofit donates 5,000+ bikes to kids, needs volunteers

The 5-year-old Minneapolis-based nonprofit Free Bikes 4 Kidz gave away more than 5,000 donated bicycles to children last year, and claims to be the largest donor of free bikes in the nation.

Now the group plans to expand. It collected more than 5,000 bikes in an Oct. 13 drive in partnership with Allina Health, but it is looking for even more donations through Thanksgiving.

The organization is also looking for volunteers to help clean up the bikes for donation, as well as volunteers who can do some fix-it work. FB4K needs volunteer for three-hour shifts at its Hopkins and Maplewood locations. To register, click on volunteer at fb4k.com (or click donate to donate).

The group works with 100 nonprofit agencies who select children to receive the bikes, which organizers hope to give away on Dec. 1.