The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Cycling Team is a recently formed team which competes as a Division II team of the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference. Besides racing on both road and mountain bike circuits, the team is home to several academically distinguished students. It is actively involved with fostering a healthy relationship between the team, school administration, and the community. Part of this involves doing community service events, such as its upcoming bike drive for a homeless shelter. This event came about when the team was cleaning out some old bikes left on campus, and thought that the extra bikes could be put to better use rather than going in the dumpster.

Their plan is to donate all the bicycles in functioning condition to the "Homes for the Homeless" shelter in Jamaica. The team wants to expand this bike drive to include any donated bikes from the Great Neck and Kings Point communities. The idea is to have all the bikes collected and donated to the homeless shelter in time for them to be a holiday gift. A bicycle gives a homeless person a new way to take on life. He or she would now have a free, fast, and efficient mode of transportation which would enable them to possibly travel to a job or a doctor's office. Potentially, a child from the shelter could gain access to the bike- an experience he or she may never have had before. The team is trying to improve the living standards of the underprivileged and give them a chance for a new way of life.

If you are considering purchasing a new bicycle for a child or adult this holiday season, now is perfect time to do it and donate your old bike. Your donation could mean the world of a difference for someone. Donating an unused bike saves you space and benefits a less fortunate person tremendously! It is preferable that the bikes donated are in good condition; however, even if the bike has small problems your donation is greatly appreciated. If the team gets enough bikes they will split them up between several homeless shelters.

KP Cycling will be running the bike drive Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon outside the gates of the Academy. The exact location will be in the parking lot of the admissions center directly adjacent to the front gate at the end of Steamboat Road. If you can't drop your bike off, they can also pick up but ask a small donation in return for this service. If you have any questions, would like to donate your bike, or would like to contact the team about dropping off at a different time, please call Midshipman Russell Forthuber at 707-853-1148, or email him at Russell.Forthuber.2009@usmma.edu