Community

OXY volunteers built 568 bikes and gave them to ECISD second-graders

OXY volunteers build 568 bikes for ECISD 2nd graders

Hundreds of Odessa second-graders were understandably cheering for joy Tuesday when they learned they were about to receive a new bike, fitted just for them.

A total of 568 bicycles were assembled by a team of 50 volunteers from OXY on Tuesday before being delivered to 2nd graders at three schools in Odessa: Cavazos Elementary, Cameron Elementary and West Elementary.

Bikes were adjusted to fit each student, who also got a helmet and bike-riding lessons if needed, according to the Ector County ISD.

OXY planned the event with Wish For Wheels.

Wish For Wheels is a national organization that works to build and give a new bike and helmet to every Title 1 second grader across America. The organization has facilitated nearly 1,000 team build and give events with 500 companies and organizations at over 250 schools.

Why bikes? Because when communities come together to build bikes for underserved kids, the bikes become “vehicles for community building — both for the children who receive them, and for the teams who Build & Give them,” states Wish for Wheels.