Over 130 Bikes Collected for Needy Children

By Marta Levenson

Dr. Walter Priestly of Priestly Chiropractic on Conklin Street in Farmingdale held a bicycle drive to help needy children this holiday season. The bike drive, which ran from Nov. 17 to Dec. 15, was organized by Priestly in hopes of gathering used bicycles in good condition to donate

Salvatore Pontillo (left) with Dr. Priestly, congratulating him on a successful bike drive.

to needy children in the community.

Through his efforts, over 130 bikes were collected throughout the course of four weeks. Dr. Priestly was assisted in his efforts by the Daleview Nursing Home of Farmingdale, which helped prepare a newsletter that promoted the bike drive.

In past years, Dr. Priestly has hosted food drives for St. Kilian's Outreach Center, and he noted that over that time numerous organizations have contributed to similar food drives. He decided to start the bike drive this year thinking it would fun to collect them and fulfill a need.

Dr. Priestly thanks everybody for their contributions, including Donna Bracken, Emett McGeary, Terry Robey and Pat Figueroa, all of whom went out and purchased brand new bicycles for the drive, and Rich Gutowitz of Bike Depot for his donation from his store. In addition, Dr. Priestly extends thanks to his friends who helped him with tuning up bikes and loading them on and off the moving van on delivery day. They included Rodger Dickinson and Joe McDowell of Farmingdale, Horace Jones and Rev. Roy Roberson and Liesel Beis. He would also like to thank Legislator Salvatore Pontillo for his contributions.

Pontillo was on hand to congratulate Dr. Walter Priestly on his enormously successful bike drive for needy children in nearby communities. In addition, Pontillo donated dozens of bike helmets to this worthy cause. "This undertaking will bring much happiness to a great many children during the upcoming holiday season," Pontillo said of the drive.

The bikes were delivered last week to be distributed to needy families and children during holiday celebrations this weekend. The four locations included the Mercy Soup Kitchen, the Wyandanch Public Library, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church and Christ the King Church.