by Carl Baker on 2016-03-30
Redlands Police donated approximately 50 bicycles Wednesday, March 9, to an organization that pairs needy veterans with bicycles, providing them with transportation to medical appointments and employment as well as physical exercise.
The bicycles, unclaimed property which have been released for disposition, were donated to the Bikes 4 Vets Project, an organization founded by Redlands resident Joseph Mena to empower veterans living in the Inland Empire. Mena is a member of the San Bernardino County Veterans Advisory Committee 5th District, the VA Hospital Advisory Council, DAV Chapter 12 Past JR Vice Commander in San Bernardino and U.S. Vets Advisory Committee member.
Last year the Redlands Police Department was the first agency to donate bicycles to Bikes 4 Vets Project Inland Empire. “Thanks to your leadership and your communicating with other law enforcement agencies within the Inland Empire, others are donating bicycles to veterans,” founder Joseph Mena wrote in a March 10 letter to Redlands Chief of Police Mark A. Garcia.
A total of 249 bicycles were donated to needy veterans through the program in 2015.
The organization depends on donations of bicycles from the community and an agreement with the Inland Empire Biking Alliance to inspect and repair bicycles at cost. Working with the Veterans Administration hospital in Loma Linda, Bikes 4 Vets identifies veterans without reliable means of transportation and provides the bikes for free. The only requirement the organization makes is that the recipient attends a road safety course.
Veterans or those wishing to donate may contact Bikes 4 Vets Project via email at bikes4vets@yahoo.com. Bikes 4 Vets is a 501(c) 3 organization and receipts can be provided for tax purposes.