(Rotary Club of Medicine Hat/Facebook)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Rotary Club of Medicine Hat helping recent immigrants with bikes

Jul 13, 2022 | 5:13 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat has been helping newcomers get around a little bit easier, by giving them the gift of two wheels.

Bikes have been fixed up and delivered to several newcomer families, including several from Ukraine.

The Rotary Club has been working in conjunction with Saamis Immigration to partner families with bikes.

Terry Cooper, from the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat, says bikes can make a huge difference in a newcomer’s life.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

3h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

5h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

21h ago

“They need a way to get around the community and the bikes are exactly how they get around. I know a Ukrainian family, we gave them four bikes and the first excursion was to go to Walmart to get some supplies and household goods that they were looking for. So that’s how they get around, and they are pleased with the bikes and they actually thanked us for our generosity,” Cooper said.

Approximately 200 bikes have been fixed up and distributed in the past year-and-a-half.

Bikes have also gone to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and several other non-profits in the city.

The bikes are either donated by members of the community or are unclaimed bikes from the MHPS storage unit.

One man who received a bike recently was Soda Yuong who moved to Canada six months ago from Cambodia.

“It helps me a lot with physical health, mental health, the economic, you save money, and with the environment, there is no pollution,” he said.

The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat is in need of used bikes. If you would like to help out you can contact Peter Mueller at 403-502-9609.