Kick The Training Wheels Off With These Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a bike for my child?
Virtually all of our bikes are given away through a network of non-profits, community organizations, churches and schools. See the organization criteria here. The best way to get a bike is to ask an organization, like your child’s school or your faith community to consider getting involved with FB4K MN and requesting bikes on your behalf. Organizations can apply for bikes here.
What is the process to become a benefiting partner and receive bikes?
First, apply here indicate the number of bikes you’d like to distribute to kids in your community. If approved as a benefiting partner, our Bike Recipient Coordinator will be in touch about next steps. We’ll ask you to gather the information we need about your recipients to get the right bikes selected for you. Finally, we’ll need to know how and when your organization will be ready to pick up bikes from our warehouse to distribute.
How do I donate a bike?
Bikes can be dropped off on Saturday, October 7, 2023 between 9 AM and 1 PM at participating Hy-Vee locations (see below). If you can donate $30 in addition to your bike, that will cover the cost for us to get your bike back in ‘good as new’ condition. To donate, click here.
Participating Hy-Vee Locations
Brooklyn Park: 9409 Zane Ave N, 763-488-4500
Cottage Grove: 7280 E Point Douglas Rd S, 651-458-7000
Eagan: 1500 Central Park Commons Dr, 651-405-3660
Lakeville: 16150 Pilot Know Rd, 952-423-9340
Maple Grove: 18755 70th Way N, 763-494-5300
Maplewood: 2501 White Bear Ave, 651-747-3500
New Hope: 8200 42nd Ave No, 763-531-7462
Oakdale: 7180 10th Street N, 651-714-3160
Plymouth: 16705 County Rd 24, 763-383-7060
Robbinsdale: 3505 Bottineau Blvd, 612-287-7200
Savage: 6150 Egan Dr, 952-228-2550
Shakopee: 1451 Adams St S, 952-403-1520
What kind of bikes is FB4K looking for?
Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN is looking for new or gently used bikes of any size (including tricycles and scooters)—child or adult. We are looking for bikes that are in good rideable condition and need minimal work in order to get them looking and running well. We are not looking for bikes that are rusted, missing wheels, have bent wheels, or basically are in “tough” shape. If you would be proud to give your used bike to a neighbor to ride right away, we would be proud to help you do that!
Is FB4K a 501c3 non-profit? Can I contribute financially to FB4K MN and help get more bikes to kids?
Yes. And yes. We are a registered non-profit so 100% of your contribution is tax deductible. (You will receive a receipt from us for all contributions.) We gladly accept contributions of any size. We spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 to get each bike in tip top shape, so your donation will help get more bikes to more kids. Visit our Financial Donations page where you will be able to make a donation online using your credit card. Or, if you would rather, you can send a check to our mailing address, also listed on our Contact page.
I would like to volunteer my time to help. What can I do?
We need thousands of volunteers to clean, repair, and help us give away thousands of bikes each year. We love people who have mad bike repair skills, but if you don’t have that ability, we still desperately need you. If you can wash and shine a bike, we need you. If you can pump up tires we need you. If you can change tires and lube chains and hubs, we need you. If you can help us move, load, and unload bikes, we need you.
Here’s what you do. Go to the Volunteer page and register. You can register as an individual, or you can register a whole group that you are bringing along with you. You can choose the day and the time slot, and you can tell us what your skill level is.
How does my non-profit, community organization, church, or school get on FB4K MN’s radar so that we can be recipients of bikes?
You can Apply 4 Bikes online and tell us about your organization—what you do, where you are located, your history, if you are a registered non-profit, etc. We will connect you with our Bike Recipient Coordinator, who is in charge of coordinating and facilitating this process. Past benefitting organizations must re-apply each year.
I don’t live in Minnesota, but would like to start a Free Bikes 4 Kidz affiliate in my city. Can you help me do that?
Great question. We get asked this question all the time, and FB4K National has begun to expand all throughout the US. Please click the National Contact link to get in touch with the national organization for more information.