Donate a bike; help kids in Africa get to school

This is the time to do something with that bike. You know, the one that sits unused in your garage or basement, gathering cobwebs. Your bike would be so much happier in Togo, Africa, where hundreds of other bikes donated over the years from generous PCC shoppers are helping disadvantaged rural Togolese children get to school (before bikes, many students faced up to a 10-mile walk to school each day. It's small wonder many are forced to drop out).

Girls received the majority of last year's donated bicycles. Photo courtesy Alaffia.

Bring your functioning, adult-sized used bicycle to the Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care Bicycle Donation Drive 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 24 at Kirkland PCC (10718 N.E. 68th) or 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 25 at Seward Park PCC (5041 Wilson Ave. S., Seattle). Your bike will help someone like 14-year-old Mawoumbe' Laba reach her classes. And that's a great feeling.

Since 2005, Alaffia has distributed more than 3,000 bicycles to Togolese students so they can continue their educations and break the cycle of poverty. Call 360-866-0080 or email bikes@alaffia.com for more information.

More about: Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care, community, health and body care products