Tampa Republic

For the fifth consecutive year, the city of Tampa, in collaboration with onbikes, powered by Microlumen, and supported by Tampa General Hospital, will be providing brand new bicycles to deserving children. The initiative, known as "Caroling with Castor," aims to bring joy and opportunities for health and wellness to kids in the community.

The event will be led by the onbikes 50-foot Gasparilla parade float, which will be accompanied by a series of Chadwell Supply trucks filled with bicycles. These bicycles will be given to children who are members of the Tampa Parks and Recreation After-School Program. The first giveaway will take place at Fair Oaks Park Community Center at 3:00 p.m., followed by another bicycle giveaway at Cyrus Greene.

Mayor Jane Castor will personally hand out bikes to children at both locations. Expressing her enthusiasm for the event, Mayor Castor said, "Every child deserves the pure joy of owning a bike, and being a part of their happiness is truly heartwarming. This event is a beautiful reminder of unity during this special time of year."

The importance of providing bikes to kids goes beyond just the joy they bring. Bicycles open up new opportunities for children to explore their community and can serve as a transportation option for teenagers who need to get to school or work. Julius Tobin, Co-Founder of onbikes, emphasized the transformative power of a bicycle, stating, "At onbikes, we believe in the transformative power of a bicycle – it's more than just a means of transport; it's a vehicle of hope and opportunity. It's truly remarkable how something as humble as a bike can have such a profound impact on a child's life."

The event schedule includes various stages, starting with the float staging at the Penny Saver Lot at 2:20 p.m. Mayor Castor's arrival and bike presentations will take place at Fair Oaks at 3:00 p.m., followed by a travel to Cyrus Greene and further bike presentations.

Caroling and bike deliveries will be done from the onbikes 50-foot Gasparilla parade float, creating a festive and joyful atmosphere for the children.

About onbikes, the Tampa-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, it was founded in 2011 when a group of friends organized a community bike ride during the winter holiday season to raise funds for at-risk kids to receive their very first bike. Since then, onbikes has been dedicated to restoring the self-confidence, health, and overall well-being of at-risk kids in the community.

For more information, please contact onbikes at 306 East Jackson Street, Tampa, Florida, or call (813) 274-8211.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.tampa.gov/news/2023-12/today-caroling-castor-provides-bikes-kids-133316